asked the Minister for Finance (a) the number of civil servants seconded to staff associations on a full-time basis, (b) the names of the associations concerned and the number of seconded officials per association, (c) the number of seconded officials in each rank or grade of the Civil Service, (d) the total exchequer expenditure on salaries to seconded officials, (e) the terms on which civil servants are seconded to staff associations, (f) if special terms or secondment are given to civil servants to enable them to fully participate in national activities of the trade union movement and (g) the percentage of staff association dues, if any, which go to political party affiliation fees.
Written Answer. - Secondment of Civil Servants.
71.
The information sought is set out below:
(a) (b) (c):
At present 8 civil servants are seconded on a full-time basis to staff associations as follows:—
|
Civil Service |
Number and grade of civil servants |
|
Staff Association |
|
|
Civil Service Clerical Association |
2 Clerical Officers 1 Clerical Assistant |
|
Civil Service Executive and Higher Officers' Association |
1 Executive Officer |
|
Irish Post Office Engineering Union |
1 Technician, Class I |
|
Post Office Workers' |
2 Post Office Clerks |
|
Union |
Grade A |
|
1 Postman |
(d):
The present expenditure on salaries of seconded officers is £9,465 a year. This sum is recouped in full to the Exchequer.
(e) (f):
The terms on which the officers are seconded are as follows:—
(i) Their salaries and children's allowances, if payable, are paid direct to them by their Departments and their associations refund to the Departments, quarterly in arrear, the amount so paid together with the appropriate addition for pension liability.
(ii) Particulars of all sick leave taken during the period of secondment must be furnished by associations to the seconded officers' Departments.
(iii) During the period of secondment officers are subject to the usual regulations governing the conduct of civil servants and are not, for example, free to engage in political activities.
(g):
Subject to what follows, staff organisations recognised for the purpose of the conciliation and arbitration scheme for the Civil Service may not be affiliated to any political organisation in accordance with the terms of the governing agreement. Exceptionally recognition has been accorded since 1950 to one organisation whose political affiliation subsisted prior to 1st April, 1949. The Minister has no information as to what contribution this organisation makes to political party funds except that under an agreement of general application ordinary membership subscriptions to it are deducted from the pay of members; moneys collected under this arrangement may not in any circumstances be applied to subscriptions to any political organisation.