Ms Geraldine Tallon:

I do not think so. A significant number of local authority general operatives work outdoors in crews here, there and anywhere. If they are involved in road maintenance works or in other services, they can be taking place in areas remote from canteen facilities. It is a reflection on the nature of outdoor work in local government that staff may be working on-site for a very large proportion of the time. It is a cost effective way of maintaining productivity. If one gives a small allowance and staff eat their lunch relatively quickly, they are back on the job relatively quickly also. All in all, it is viewed as a cost-effective measure by the local authorities. For that reason, we were prepared to say it should go before the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

There are two general operative staff in Met Éireann who are based in the Valencia observatory to whom the eating on-site allowance is payable. The figure came to a total of €988 in 2011. We would regard this as reasonable in the case of the two staff in the Valencia observatory.