asked the Minister for Local Government if he will make a statement concerning his decision to refer findings of the local authority offices arbitration board and claims by local authority engineers and county accountants to the review body on higher remuneration; and the revised rate of pay it was proposed to introduce as from 1st April, 1968.

In regard to the first part of the question I would refer the Deputy to my reply to similar questions on Wednesday, 22nd October, 1969. As regards the introduction of revised rates of pay I have sanctioned revised salary scales for local authority engineers and county accountants. Details of the revised salary scales are given in the form of a tabular statement which with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:—

County Engineer

£2,920 × £124—£3,540 with effect from 1/4/'68

£3,185 × £135—£3,860,,,,,,1/6/'68

£3,300 × £140—£3,995,,,,,,1/6/'69

Chief Assistant County Engineer

£2,200 × £78—£2,670 with effect from 1/4/'68

£2,400 × £85—£2,910,,,,,,1/6/'68

£2,490 × £90—£3,015,,,,,,1/6/'69

Assistant County Engineer

£1,550 × £75—£2,150 with effect from 1/4/'68

£1,690 × £82—£2,340,,,,,,1/6/'68

£1,760 × £85—£2,430,,,,,,1/6/'69

County Accountant

£1,770 × £75—£2,220 with effect from 1/4/'68

£1,930 × £82—£2,420,,,,,,1/6/'68

£2,005 × £84—£2,425 × £85—£2,510 with effect from 1/6/'69