Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 320: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason general operatives employed by one of the North-South implementation bodies (details supplied) are awaiting benchmarking payments since 2001; the reason for this delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13261/05]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Southern-based craft and industrial staff in the North-South implementation body referred to by the Deputy are linked for pay purposes to State industrial employees. As part of the terms of Sustaining Progress and its associated pay agreements, the staff in question were granted an award, which is to be paid in instalments, subject to the agreement and implementation of an appropriate modernisation plan.

I understand that, owing to the negotiations involved, no industrial State employee received the first phase of the award earlier than 2004. Agreement on the modernisation plan of the North-South implementation body in question was finalised in December 2004 when the first phase of the award was paid and backdated to December 2001. Subsequent phases of the award are being paid in line with the provisions contained in Sustaining Progress.