asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that the wages paid by the contractor for the Grange and Johnstown, Fermoy, County Cork, water supply, are at the rate of 28/9 per week; if the recognised rate in the district is 35/- per week, and whether he is prepared to withhold payment of the State grant in respect of this work until the contractor undertakes to pay wages at the recognised rate; further, if he is aware that, in selecting men to work on this scheme, the contractor discriminated against local labour; whether the specification for the work was altered subsequent to the contract being placed, and, if so, whether he can state on what grounds the alteration was made.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork Water Scheme.
I am not aware of the rate of wages paid by the contractor for this work. The particulars furnished by the local authority of the men employed on the work indicated that the conditions governing the grant were observed. The specification also set out that all skilled and unskilled labour should be employed through the nearest labour exchange office. A proportion of the grant was paid to the local authority before the end of March. I am unaware of any change in specification subsequent to the contract being placed on the information before me at present. I see no adequate reason for withholding the grant, but I will make further inquiries into the position.
Mr. Murphy
Arising out of the Minister's reply, would he make further inquiries in order to ascertain if, in the case of schemes of this kind and numerous other schemes, there is a striking difference in the rates of wages paid? Would it be possible for the Minister to consider whether, as in the case of grants made to county councils for the maintenance of roads, that it would be a condition of the grant that a fixed rate of wages should be paid approximating to the local rate of wages?
I think it is usual to suggest to the local authority to have a clause put in in the agreement that the local rate of wages be paid.
Mr. Murphy
It is very rarely done.
I am not aware of that.