asked the Minister for the Environment if he will consider introducing legislation to require employers to allow employees who are elected to local authorities, time off to attend council or committee meetings, without loss of pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Attendance at Local Authority Meetings.
5.
Legislation relating to conditions of employment would be a matter for the Minister for Labour. I am not aware of any demand for legislation on the lines suggested. It is, of course, important that councillors should be facilitated as far as possible in attending meetings. This is a matter for arrangement between employers and employees and I am not aware that there is any general dissatisfaction with the situation.
If there is in any case a problem whom should the public representative go to?
If the Deputy is having problems with any case in that sense and brings them to my attention I will have them passed on to the relevant authority, but it is a matter for the local authority and the member.
As an example of this, what is the Minister's view with regard to teachers? Many teachers are members of local authorities and they have problems in getting to committee meetings that are held during the day. Does he envisage the Department of Education giving extra facilities for them as they do for the Members here?
In the House they get total time off. It would be a slightly different matter. Again that would be a matter for local management. Allowing time to teachers may impair the progress of pupils in their schools but, as I indicated, it is a matter for the employer and the employee and I hope that as far as possible elected members will be given time off. It is my view that people elected by the community should be accommodated as far as possible. When people are standing for election on a part time basis, problems can arise with employers. A change in legislation is a matter for another Department but I should like to request employers to, as far as possible, give time off to such people.
I am concerned about cases where the employer is the Department of Education and I should like to know if the Minister will make representation to his colleague, the Minister for Education, with a view to facilitating teachers as far as possible?
I certainly will but the question of time off is a matter for local management. However, I will bring the matter to the attention of the Minister for Education.
Is the Minister aware that this matter is covered by legislation in Britain? Does the Minister think that it should be covered by legislation here?
It has never appeared to be a major problem and on that basis the question of introducing legislation is a little premature. If it is a problem we will look at it but it has never been brought to my attention that it is a serious problem.