asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that the men employed on the River Goul drainage work in County Kilkenny are paid at the rate of 24/- per week while men doing similar work in the adjacent areas of County Leix and County Tipperary are being paid at the rate of 28/- or 27/- respectively; whether he is prepared to order that the rate of wages on the Goul drainage be increased to the rate recognised in the neighbouring counties with retrospective effect, and, if so, whether he can state when the adjustment will be made.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Goul Drainage—Labourers' Wages.
Labourers employed on drainage work in County Kilkenny are paid 25/- per week. Labourers employed on similar work in the adjacent area in County Leix are paid 27/1 per week. There are no drainage works at present in progress in County Tipperary. The rate of pay fixed for drainage labourers varies in different districts. The rate for drainage labourers employed in County Kilkenny has been fixed with due regard to local conditions, and it is not proposed to increase it.