asked the Minister for Finance if he will state if he has received repeated representations during the years 1939/40 from and on behalf of boatmen employed by the Board of Works at Dun Laoghaire Harbour requesting a revision of their existing hours of duty and the application to them of a 48-hour working week; whether he is aware that the men concerned are rostered to work a seven-day week of 105 hours in their turn, and have been refused payment for over-time or extra payment for Sunday and night duty, and that other workers employed by the Board of Works at the same place and with less service are getting the benefit of a 48-hour week, payment for over-time, etc.; and whether, therefore, he will now state if he proposes to sanction the request of those concerned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dun Laoghaire Boatmen's Working Hours.
Representations regarding the working hours of the boatmen at Dun Laoghaire Harbour have been under consideration for some time. The men, although described as boatmen are engaged for the greater part of their time on watching duties only, which include the night watch on the West Pier taken in turn by each of three of these men. A revised scheme which will secure a more regular distribution of hours as between the various shifts has now been drawn up and will be brought into operation within the next week or so.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say if the revised hours will mean that the men will get the benefit of a 48-hour week?
I think when the Deputy sees the revised scheme he will find that it will be a satisfactory solution of a very difficult problem.