78 Mr. Cox asked the Minister for the Environment whether the 10 per cent extra salary allowance is paid to all rent collectors who operate in areas which include Gaeltacht areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Under the Local Offices (Irish Language) Regulations, 1966, a local authority may pay an allowance of up to 7.5 per cent of basic pay to officers who comply with certain criteria in regard to the use of Irish in the performance of their duties in Gaeltacht areas. It is a matter for the local authority to determine whether an individual officer meets the criteria laid down and to fix the level of allowance to be paid in any particular case.