asked the Minister for Finance if he will state how he arrived at the rate of wages of 26/- per week now being paid to the men employed on the Douglas River drainage scheme, County Leix; whether men residing in the same area and employed on the Barrow drainage scheme were paid at the rate of 30/- per week some years ago, and if he can agree to an increased wage for the men presently employed on the Douglas scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wages on Leix Drainage Works.
It is correct that 30/- per week has been paid to labourers on the Barrow drainage scheme.
The rate of wages for labourers employed on the Douglas River scheme was fixed at 26/- per week, which works out at the rate of 6½d. per hour, being the rate recently paid to workers on the neighbouring Goul scheme in the same county. The rates of wages paid to labourers on drainage schemes generally are fixed in relation to the average rate paid in the same county areas to agricultural labourers, but the higher rate of 26/- per week was allowed to stand for the Douglas scheme.
Has it not been the practice of the Government, in the case of State-aided schemes, to pay so much per week above the minimum rate paid to agricultural labourers on schemes of this kind?
That is so. As a matter of fact a rate based on the time that scheme was started would have given a rate of 23/- per week: and not 26/- per week. I think what the Deputy probably has in mind is the fact that there is now a minimum agricultural rate of 24/- per week: that is, a minimum agricultural rate of 24/- for 54 hours, hours which are not worked on drainage schemes.
That is very interesting.
The point, as a matter of fact, is being considered.