asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the number of bricklayers, plasterers, plumbers, carpenters, painters and labourers at present employed at the Custom House, General Post Office, and Four Courts; and if he will recommend the employment at an early date of additional men on these buildings and other buildings being erected or restored out of Government Funds.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - RESTORATION OF DUBLIN BUILDINGS—NUMBERS EMPLOYED.
replying: The following return shows the numbers of the various classes of workmen employed on a "Time" basis at the buildings specified in the question:—
The number of workmen employed at the Custom House, General Post Office and Four Courts by Board of Works Contractors on a Time basis as per Time Sheets for week ended the 18th November, 1926, were as follows:—
Custom House |
General Post Office |
Four Courts |
|||
Bricklayers |
10 |
1 |
40 |
||
Plasterers |
1 |
— |
2 |
||
Plumbers |
2 |
— |
— |
||
Carpenters |
12 |
2 |
16 |
||
Painters |
— |
— |
2 |
||
Labourers including Gangers, Timekeepers, Scaffolders and Assistants, Storemen, Carters and boys |
96 |
21 |
235 |
||
Total— |
121 |
24 |
295 |
||
In addition to above the following are also employed on Time basis:—
Electricians |
9 |
— |
— |
||
Fitters and Blacksmiths |
1 |
— |
2 |
||
Stonecutters |
40 |
— |
29 |
||
Stonerubbers |
6 |
— |
3 |
||
Stonecarvers |
1 |
— |
— |
||
57 |
— |
34 |
|||
Grand Total— |
178 |
24 |
329 |
||
In addition the following arc the numbers of tradesmen and labourers employed in connection with "lump sum" contracts:—
Tradesmen |
Labourers |
|
Custom House |
44 |
45 |
Post Office |
35 |
68 |
Four Courts |
9 |
3 |
The grand totals of all men engaged are:—
Tradesmen |
Labourers |
Totals |
|||
Custom House |
126 |
141 |
267 |
||
Post Office |
38 |
89 |
127 |
||
Four Courts |
103 |
238 |
341 |
||
267 |
468 |
735 |
|||
It is anticipated that 200 more men will be taken on within the next fortnight or three weeks for work at these buildings.
Will that embrace Unskilled men, or skilled and unskilled?
To a large extent unskilled; but there will be some skilled.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that it is freely circulated outside that the work is being held up on these buildings, thereby depriving skilled men of necessary employment, and, in view of the large sums of money voted for this purpose, will the Parliamentary Secretary ask the contractors to put on additional men?
The work has been held up very seriously on the G.P.O. for the reason that owing to the coal strike the steel required could not be procured. Special efforts have been made to procure steel, and these are being maintained. Possibly within five weeks from now the necessary steel will be available to enable us to deal with the principal portion of the building. We have already exhausted our work at the Custom House; we are more than ahead of time there.