Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Dec 1995

Vol. 459 No. 6

Written Answers. - Subsistence Allowance.

Hugh Byrne

Ceist:

88 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for Health the amount of daily subsistence paid since January 1980, to date in 1995; the dates on which increases were granted in respect of subsistence allowances to officers and non-officers of the South Eastern Health Board who are engaged in driving health board vehicles (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18718/95]

Hugh Byrne

Ceist:

89 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for Health if the £7.79 daily subsistence rate is paid to all officers and non-officers driving health board vehicles, including tradesmen and general operatives, in the South Eastern Health Board region; the variations, if any, that exist in the South Eastern Health Board area; if so, the circumstances under which they apply; if all increases are paid automatically and on time; if payments are made on a regular basis, such as weekly or fortnightly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18719/95]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan

, Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 89 together.

My Department sanctions the increase in subsistence allowances paid to officer grades employed in the health boards. The date of implementation of new rates has, to date been January 1 of the reference year. However, as these allowances are also applicable in other public sector employments, where they, in fact, originate, it should be noted that sanction for the payment of these rates would have been issued retrospectively to the health boards in many cases.

The rates of daily subsistence in respect of the years from January 1980 to date in 1995 are set out in the following table. The allowances quoted relate to absences of 5-10 hours, payable to officer grade employees of health boards. There are no formal provisions for the payment of subsistence rates to non-officer grades. However, in the case of the ambulance service, local arrangements in a number of boards, including the South Eastern Health Board, allow for the payment of the officer rates to those non-officers.

The question of payment to other non-officer grades does not generally arise, but where it does, these are catered for by a range of appropriate allowances. In the case of tradesmen, vehicle drivers and general operatives in the South Eastern Health Board specifically, the following arrangements apply:

All of these grades are paid the Department's approved subsistence rates for officer grades, when they are absent from base for a period in excess of five hours. One variation on this arrangement is in the Wexford area where tradesmen and general operatives are paid a meal allowance (known as the eating-on-site allowance in other regions). Vehicle drivers in Wexford have been paid the Department's approved officer rate with effect from 1 January 1995, arising from local staff/management discussions. Payments for subsistence are made monthly on the basis of claims received.

Year	Class of Allowance	Allowance
		£
1980	A	3.36
	B	3.36
	C	3.36
1981	A	3.70
	B	3.70
	C	3.70
1982	A	4.39
	B	4.39
	C	4.39
1983	A	4.95
	B	4.95
	C	4.95
1984	A	5.14
	B	5.14
	C	5.14
1985	A	5.54
	B	5.54
	C	5.54
1986	A	5.54
	B	5.54
	C	5.54
1987	A	no increase
	B	no increase
	C	no increase
1988	A	6.08
	B	6.08
	C	6.08
1989	A	6.18
	B	6.18
	C	6.18
1990	A	6.46
	B	6.46
	C	6.46
1991	A	6.99
	B	6.99
	C	6.99
1992	A	7.25
	B	7.25
	C	7.25
1993	A	7.48
	B	7.48
	C	7.48
1994	A	7.79
	B	7.79
	C	7.79
1995	A	7.79
	B	7.79
	C	7.79