asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if any claim has been made for disturbance allowances by employees of his Department in respect of the transfer of Departmental responsibilities to An Bord Telecom Éireann or An Post; the nature of any such claim; and the Government's view of such claim.

Notification has been received at the Departmental Conciliation Council under the Scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration for the Civil Service of a claim for increased pay for one particular grade based on the proposed transfer of members of the grade from the Civil Service to Bord Telecom Éireann. As the proceedings of the council are confidential it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on the matter at this stage.

Can the Minister confirm that there is no claim made for disturbance allowance as such arising from the transfer by any section of the Department who will be transferred to Bord Telecom or An Bord Phoist?

No claim has been presented in respect of disturbance as such arising from the transfer of responsibility from the Department to Bord Telecom Éireann or An Post.

In the event of such a claim being presented, would the Minister agree that such a claim would have no merit in the light of a mere transfer of effective responsibility? Further, is the Minister in a position to indicate which section of the Department sought a pay increase for the sole reason that they may be transferred to one of the two boards rather than remain under the auspices of the Department?

I will not go into the first part of the Deputy's supplementary. Notification has been received of a claim for increased pay for the grade of telephone officer based on the proposed transfer of the grade from the Civil Service to Bord Telecom Éireann.

Is the Minister in a position to disclose the nature of the increase being sought?

I am not in a position to do so.

12.