asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that men engaged by the Leix County Council on the work of turf cutting are not paid their wages until the expiration of a month after they have commenced work and at the end of the month are paid only two weeks' wages; whether he has approved of these arrangements, and if not, whether he will take steps to secure that the men concerned will be paid their wages weekly as they accrue.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Leix Turf-Cutting Arrangements.
I am informed that the system in operation in Laoighis for the payment of men employed in turf cutting is the same as that in operation in the county for the payment of road workers. The present system involves delay in payment in the case of a worker who for the first time in a season commences work at the beginning of a fortnightly period, but it is not correct to imply that every worker has to wait a month for his pay. Payment of wages is made fortnightly and it is not proposed to depart from existing practice.
Will the Minister say why workers engaged at an hourly rate have to wait, as they had to in this case, for four weeks before receiving payment of the amount due? Is he aware that some of the men concerned came off unemployment assistance and had to seek emergency relief from the same local authority when refused payment of wages due for two, three and up to four weeks?
I am not aware of that.
Is there any employer in the country worthy of the name who would enforce such conditions or his workers?
It might be much better to employ more people by not holding up the staff on that kind of business.
Will the Minister say whether his attention has been directed to the fact that men are being brought by lorry to some of the large outlying bogs 14 or 15 miles distant from their places of residence, and, on arrival there, are told that the weather is too wet to work and are then brought home in the evening, without getting any pay for their day's sojourn on the bog? In considering terms of payment, would he have that matter reviewed, so as to avoid, in so far as it is possible, the non-payment of men when they are actually brought a long distance to a bog?
I am not aware of that, but the position is that, if you want to make progress, you must leave a certain amount of discretion to the county surveyors. They are allowed considerable discretion in this matter. However, I will look into the matter.
Is the Minister not aware that the county council workers referred to by him in his reply are employed weekly and paid a weekly rate of wages, whereas the turf-cutters referred to in the question should be paid an hourly rate of wages?
Road workers are paid fortnightly.
Road workers are not expected to wait for a month before getting a fortnight's wages.
There is no question whatever of waiting for a month. They are paid fortnightly, but if a man is employed at the beginning of a week, there may be a delay of a fortnight, but there is no such thing as a month's delay.
Does the Minister deny that in this case men who have been employed in County Laoighis on turf-cutting have had to wait four weeks for their wages?
That is not my information.
Is the Minister not aware that 150 men ceased working at Glencree area, arising out of Deputy Dillon's question?
I hope not arising out of my question. My question arose out of their position.
The Government refuses to allow the county council to give these men the same treatment as is given to men employd by the county council. Payment was refused to the men, although they had to wait for 12 hours on the bog, after which time the lorry returned to take them back.