asked the Minister for Finance whether he will state (i) in respect of the first week of each month in 1938, the number of men employed on rotational relief schemes (including land reclamation schemes), and the average number employed daily throughout the year; (ii) the average daily rate of wages paid to such men; (iii) the percentage of those so employed in respect of which (a) health insurance; and (b) unemployment insurance cards have been stamped, and the average number of stamps credited to each such worker.
Written Answers. - Employment on Rotational Relief Schemes.
(i) While a weekly return is kept of the total numbers engaged on all employment schemes, there are very great difficulties in the way of ascertaining the precise number of workmen employed on the rotational system. The table below sets out in respect of the first week of each month in 1938 the total numbers of men engaged on employment schemes (including land reclamation schemes) and the estimated number of these who were employed on the rotational system. It also sets out the approximate percentages of the total number who had insurance cards stamped under (a) the National Health Insurance Acts and (b) the Unemployment Insurance Acts.
The average number of men employed daily throughout the year is not available.
|
First Week in |
Total No. of Workmen Employed |
Approx No. of Workmen Employed on Rotation |
Percentage of Total Insured under |
|
|
National Health Acts |
Unemployment Insurance Acts |
|||
|
1938: |
||||
|
Jany. |
37,502 |
21,703 |
79% |
48% |
|
Feb. |
37,515 |
20,013 |
73% |
50% |
|
March |
34,518 |
19,043 |
76% |
42% |
|
April |
25,029 |
13,894 |
78% |
37% |
|
May |
13,857 |
8,603 |
93% |
49% |
|
June |
9,490 |
5,941 |
99% |
78% |
|
July |
8,235 |
4,979 |
100% |
76% |
|
August |
8,144 |
5,297 |
100% |
58% |
|
Sept. |
5,847 |
3,444 |
99% |
72% |
|
Oct. |
3,989 |
2,077 |
96% |
74% |
|
Nov. |
10,621 |
6,859 |
92% |
46% |
|
Dec. |
30,847 |
21,663 |
93% |
44% |
The returns for the months October-December, 1938, are not yet fully completed, and the figures given for these three months must be regarded as the closest estimate that can be made from the information available.
(ii) The average daily rate of wages paid to workmen on employment schemes is not available; the daily rates paid in each district are those which are normally paid for similar work in the district; and, for unskilled labour, range from 4/6 per day for minor employment schemes in rural areas, to 11/4 per day in Dublin County Borough.
(iii) National health insurance contributions are paid in respect of all workers on employment schemes except in cases where workers are assisted by grants to carry out reclamation schemes on their own lands. With the further exception of unskilled workmen employed on minor employment schemes, unemployment insurance cards are stamped for all workmen.
The percentage of cards stamped in each case are set out in the table under (i). The average number of stamps per annum credited to each worker is not available.