asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what rates of wages are being paid, in the various districts concerned, for unskilled labour in the erection of masts for transmission lines for electricity from the Shannon; whether the rates have been approved by him; whether they are based on information as to current rates of wages for analogous work supplied by his Department, and, if so, what was that information; whether the wages are supplemented by free or cheap housing, food supply or other facilities, and, if so, what are those facilities; whether he has made any suggestion or recommendation to the contractors as to a preference to be given to any particular class of men in engaging employees for the work; and whether applications for employment on the work are dealt with in the first instance by the Employment Exchanges.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - SHANNON SCHEME WAGES.
TOMAS MacEOIN
The general rate approved by me for unskilled labour on the erection of poles is 8½d. per hour or 35s. 5d. per week for 50 hours. The comparison made is with the rates of wages prevailing for labourers in the rural districts which are the districts where the poles will mainly be erected. The general rate paid for the erection of poles is considerably in excess of the rates prevailing in those districts. The wages are not supplemented in any of the ways mentioned in the question; it is not necessary since the men are working within reach of their homes. For labour required in the neighbourhood of cities or towns the Employment Exchanges are being used so far as practicable. Elsewhere there is in many cases a branch employment office sufficiently near and in those cases resort is made to that office. Owing to the nature of the work and its wide distribution labour may have at times to be obtained otherwise than through the employment exchanges or branch offices. Preference is given to ex-army men and to local labour in the district in which the work is being done: as the work progresses labour from the district where the work has been completed will be discharged and labour from the next district will then be taken on.
Are we to understand that preference will be given to ex-National Army men as compared with married civilians with dependents?
Yes, with certain limitations.
Could the Minister say whether it is the practice that the engagements on these jobs are made and then referred to the labour exchange?
I do not think so.
Will the Minister inquire into that?
Certainly.