asked the Minister for Lands whether his attention has been drawn to the rates of pay and conditions of employment offered to a number of men in Balbriggan required to build ditches and erect fences on lands at Flemingstown, Bremore, Balbriggan, which are in the course of being divided; whether it is a fact that the men were offered for this work 27/- per week subject to the condition that each man would make one Irish perch of ditch per day and that broken time would be deducted from the wage of 27/-; whether he is aware that the wages paid in the district by the Dublin County Council for similar work is 43/6 per week, and whether in these circumstances he will undertake that new instructions will be issued regarding the employment of men in connection with the work mentioned so as to bring the conditions of employment up to the standard recognised in the district by the County Council.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Commission Wages in County Dublin.
The rate of wages for labourers employed by the Land Commission on improvement works which are normally of an agricultural nature is based on the agricultural rate for the district. The Land Commission rate in County Dublin is from 27/- to 30/- per week. In accordance with the usual practice the labourers who were to be employed on the erection of fences, etc., in connection with the Hamlet estate, County Dublin (which appears to be the work referred to in the question) were offered 27/- per week subject to deductions for broken time, and a half-day on Saturday if three full days had been worked during the week. It was made clear to the men that an output of one statute perch (5½ yards) per day was expected, but this was not made a condition of employment.
With regard to the latter part of the question I would refer the Deputy to the statement made by the Minister for Lands during the recent debate on the Estimate for the Department of Lands to the effect that the question of the revision of wages paid to labourers employed by the Land Commission on improvement works will be taken up when the Agricultural Wages Board to be established under the provisions of forthcoming legislation are functioning.