asked the Minister for Lands if he received a memorial from a large number of workers who were employed on a Land Commission improvements scheme on the Deegan estate, Errill, County Laoighis, requesting him to sanction the payment of an increase in the rate of wages; whether he is aware that farmers residing in the same area are obliged to pay their agricultural labourers 3/- a week more for doing work of a similar nature, and whether he is prepared to recommend the payment of an increased rate.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wages of Land Commission Employees.
A memorial dated 28th October, 1940, from a number of workers on the Deegan estate, County Laoighis, asking for an increase of wages, was received by me from the Deputy on the 18th December, 1940, and was replied to on the 24th December. The minimum rate of wages payable in the area to agricultural workers for a 54-hour week is 30/-. Land Commission labourers work a 48-hour week only, and their rate of wages compares favourably with the agricultural labourers' rate. I do not see any possibility in present circumstances of an increase in the rates of wages payable to labourers employed by the Land Commission.
Is this another case in which the Minister cannot take action because of the way the Ministry is bound up with the Majority Report of the Banking Commission?