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Dáil Éireann debate -
Friday, 28 May 1937

Vol. 67 No. 10

Ceisteanna—Questions. Written Answers. - Wages on River Robe Drainage Scheme.

asked the Minister for Finance if he will give sympathetic consideration to the demands of the workers on the drainage scheme on the River Robe, County Mayo, for an increase of wages, and if he cannot accede to their full demands if he will consider giving any increase of the present wage, and if he will not do this will he state the reason why a reasonable increase of wages cannot be conceded to the workers.

Labourers employed on the River Robe drainage scheme were paid 23/- per week up to the 9th instant. This rate was increased after full consideration to 24/- from the 10th instant. The Minister cannot agree to any further increase.

Labourers for arterial drainage works are recruited from the agricultural labourer pool, and the rate of wages for arterial drainage workers is fixed in relation to the average agricultural rate payable in the county, and compares very favourably with it.

The decision as to whether a drainage scheme can be undertaken depends upon the annual benefit estimated to be derivable from the scheme in comparison with its cost when allowance has been made for free grants from State and local sources. Any tendency to increase costs will necessarily rule out border-line cases, of which there are a very considerable number. In order to reduce the cost of schemes and thereby to enable them to be carried out, resourse is had to the use of mechanical excavators; an increase in the labour cost would tend to increase the use of machinery with a consequent proportionate decrease in the employment available for workmen.

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