asked the Minister for the Environment why no increase in travelling expenses was granted for overseers of road works, who use motor cycles in the course of their work, in the last two adjustments of travelling expenses for those overseers who use cars.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Work Overseers.
23.
The travelling expenses payable to local authority employees who use motor cycles in the course of their work were last revised with effect from 1 January 1976. Since then there has been only one further adjustment in the rates of travelling expenses for the use of cars. The question of a further adjustment in motor cycle rates has been raised under the Local Authorities Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme and discussions at conciliation level in the matter are in progress. In the circumstances it would not be appropriate for me to take any further action in the matter pending the outcome of these discussions.
This is a small matter. Very few people are involved and it is not a political matter of any consequence. Why was it possible to grant an increase to overseers with motor cars while those with motor cycles have been completely neglected over the past two years?
Negotiations on the question of a further revision in motor car mileage rates with effect from 1 January 1977 went on through 1977. Agreement was eventually reached and revised motor car rates were sanctioned by circular letter in December 1977. The question of a further revision of motor cycle rates was not pursued at that time. Local authorities who inquired about these earlier this year following the issue of the circular on motor car rates were informed by us that the most appropriate course was for the question to be pursued at conciliation level through the Local Government Staff Negotiation Board.
Surely we are talking about a few pence involving no more than five or six people throughout the country. An increase has been granted to people in this category who use motor cars and a much smaller increase would satisfy those who use motor cycles, but somebody decided that this question should be the subject of arbitration which goes on and on.