asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the rate of wages presently paid to the men employed on the Garrycastle drainage scheme, County Offaly; how the amount is arrived at or fixed; whether he has received complaints on behalf of the men concerned, and whether he is now prepared to sanction an increased weekly wage to those concerned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wages on Offaly Drainage Scheme.
The rate of pay of labourers employed on the Garrycastle drainage scheme, Offaly is 24/- per week. This rate was based on the average rate paid to agricultural labourers in Offaly at the time of commencement of the scheme. A complaint as to the inadequacy of their rate of pay has been received on behalf of the labourers employed on this scheme, and is at present under consideration.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary state what was the date of the commencement of the Garrycastle Drainage Scheme, and is it now to be taken that the Government policy is to reduce the rates of this kind of scheme to the level of the rotten minimum authorised for agricultural labourers?
I think there are three questions there, and I am afraid I cannot follow the Deputy in all three of them.
Well, what was the date of the commencement of the Garrycastle Drainage Scheme?
It was started on the 21st July. 1937.
Are we to understand that it is now the policy of the Government, in the case of State-aided schemes, to reduce the rates hitherto paid to the level of the very low minimum now paid to agricultural labourers?
I am not aware of any such policy.