asked the Minister for Finance the present position regarding the amalgamation of the staff officer and executive officer grades in the Civil Service.

37.

asked the Minister for Finance whether the discussions with staff interest in relation to the amalgamation of the staff officer and executive officer grades have concluded; and, if so, when these grades will be amalgamated.

121.

asked the Minister for Finance whether arrangements have been made for the amalgamation of the staff officer and executive officer grades; and, if so, when it will occur.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 37 and 121 together.

Clearly, the amalgamation of the grades in question would involve considerable additional costs for the Exchequer and its implementation would have to be accommodated within budget-ary constraints. In addition, as indicated by my predecessor, it involves a number of personnel, structural and organisational issues of concern to both Civil Service management and staff interests. Discussions with the latter are continuing.

In view of the fact that over 800 staff officers have been waiting patiently for this decision for some time and are being told, I understand, that the order is on the Minister's table awaiting implementation, would the Minister soon make a decision as to whether he intends going ahead with this proposal? It is very unfair to keep these people in suspense for such a long time.

I assure the Deputy that this order is not on my table for approval or signature. If it were, it would not be very long on my table; I would approve it. It is still being discussed between the staff officers' union representatives and others and when it comes out of those negotiations I will gladly deal with it as quickly as possible.

Would the Minister put any time limit on this? Could he say that a decision could be made before the summer of this year?

As soon as the two associations finish their discussions with management and the matter comes to my table I will deal with it expeditiously.

(Limerick East): Could the Minister give us an idea of the total cost per annum of the proposal that has been put to the staff associations?

Approximately £1 million.

A final supplementary question from Deputy Deenihan.

The initial cost would be about £1 million but there would be a long term saving benefit involved, which would balance out that initial cost.

There is the question of cost to be considered on the one hand and the question of negotiations to be finalised between these two associations on the other. As soon as those discussions are out of the way and the matter comes to my table, as I have already said, I will deal with it expeditiously.