asked the Minister for Finance if he will state whether relief schemes are in operation in the Monasterevan area, and, if so, the place at which the schemes are being carried out, the number of men employed on each scheme, the number of days per week which such persons are employed, and the daily rate of pay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Monasterevan Schemes.
There are three schemes at present in progress in the Monasterevan area.
|
Type of Scheme |
Townland(s) |
Nature of Work |
No. of Men Employed |
Daily Rates of Pay |
|
Minor Employment Scheme. |
Lughil |
Road Repair. |
4 at 3 days per week. |
4/- for unskilled labourers. |
|
2 at 4 days per week. |
||||
|
1 carter at 5 days per week. |
7/- for carter. |
|||
|
1 charge-hand, full time. |
5/6 for chargehand. |
|||
|
Minor Employment Scheme |
Barraderra |
Road Repair. |
6 at 5 days per week (including two carters).1 charge-hand, full time. |
4/- for unskilled labourers.7/6 for carters.5/6 for chargehand. |
|
Road Improvement Scheme. |
CloneyCloneygathKilpatrickKildanganFennor |
Steamrolling, drainage and road widening. |
24 at 3 days per week.17 at 4 days per week.3 gangers, full time. |
5/- for unskilled labourers.6/- for ganger. |
If the men in this case are employed for four or five days, will the Parliamentary Secretary tell us what the gangers are doing for the remaining period?
In some cases the gangers are engaged on preparatory work of one kind or another, or they are engaged on making up the unfortunately very elaborate statistics and forms which are required in those particular cases. I wish they could be reduced.
Arising out of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, are we to understand that the rotational schemes of employment have now been extended to cases where 24/- a week is the wage paid on relief schemes? I understood that up to now the rotation schemes of employment applied only to cases where the workers were employed on county council rates of wages?
The rotation scheme at 24/- a week applied to probably 20,000 men employed all through the winter of last year.
Are we to understand then that men are employed for three days a week at a wage of 12/- for the three days, less National Health and Unemployment Insurance contributions, and does the Parliamentary Secretary consider that the net wage in that case is capable of sustaining a family, in view of the present cost of living?
I am extremely glad to have an opportunity of answering that question, and to say that every kind of information which Deputies want for the purpose of making a sound case against the rotational schemes of employment I will be most happy to supply. Every possible piece of information which is in my possession for the purpose of enabling a case on the facts to be stated, I am prepared to give. The actual position, so far as the particular point which the Deputy raises is concerned is this, that on minor employment schemes where the scales of unemployment assistance do not exceed 8/6, the men get three days per week; from 9/- to 11/6 inclusive, four days per week; 12/- and 12/6 inclusive, five days per week. For Roads (Rural) when the wage is 5/- per day:—where the unemployment assistance scale is not exceeding 10/-, three days per week; from 10/6 to 12/6, four days per week. If there is any other information of any kind that anybody wants in relation to any particular scheme, in relation to any scale relating to any scheme, in relation to the circumstances surrounding every scheme, I am entirely at his disposal.
Is that the foundation upon which the so-called Christian State is being built?
That is scarcely a relevant question.
Question No. 27.
May I call attention——
Next question —Deputy Dillon.
Awkward questions are being smothered here.
Not by the Chair?
A statement is made here, and I get a forest of words in reply, but no answer, to a supplementary question I put, and then I was prevented from directing the attention of the Parliamentary Secretary to that fact.
Next question.