Dail secretaries are demanding £2,000 each for co-operating with moving less than 100 yards to the new £25 million TDs' office block in Leinster House.
The compensation claim was lodged on behalf of 120 secretaries by their union, SIPTU, at a meeting with the Government Chief Whip, Mr Brennan, yesterday.
The secretaries refused to work in the new building yesterday on the basis that it was not safe. They will move into the five-storey accommodation block today if the Office of Public Works (OPW) has completed outstanding work.
The Government yesterday came under fire from Opposition TDs because they were moved into the new building before it was complete. TDs complained they had no telephone, fax, or Internet facilities.
The Minister for State with responsibility for the OPW, Mr Martin Cullen, was accused of misrepresenting the position with the building. In the Dail last night, the Fine Gael leader, Mr Bruton and the Labour leader, Mr Quinn, said while they welcomed the new facilities, TDs were moved in prematurely.
SIPTU official, Mr Brendan Hayes, told The Irish Times last night that the Government Chief Whip was put on notice yesterday that secretarial staff would be lodging a claim for compensation. He said the amount being sought would be £2,000.
"Our people had to pack, shift and unpack files. This is outside their normal work. The money is to compensate for this and for co-operating with the move to the new building."
Asked why the issue of compensation was only raised yesterday, Mr Hayes said that yesterday was the first time the union was afforded the opportunity of a "consultative" meeting on the move with the Government Chief Whip and OPW staff.
It was learned last night that the Dail ushers received a special once-off payment of £600 for agreeing to stay in Leinster House late while work on the new office block was being completed.
The Labour TD, Mr Pat Rabbitte, last night appeared to support the secretaries' compensation claim. In the Dail, he spoke of unequal treatment of some staff as compared to others.
"It is important that you ensure the arrangements entered into with staff of the House should apply to secretaries of TDs across the board because they are the people who did most of the work involved."
On the condition of the new building, Fine Gael TD, Mr Ivan Yates, said he was unable to find files, which were buried in red stacking boxes used to move paperwork. The red boxes were stacked on corridors and in offices all over the building.
"The aim is to get out of here and into government as fast as possible. At least we would be guaranteed decent accommodation there," Deputy Yates said.