asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that the men employed on the rebuilding of Newrath Bridge, Rathnew, County Wicklow, have been on strike because of the failure of his Department to sanction the rate of wages, in their case voted by the Wicklow County Council; whether he is aware that the delivery of milk and other transportation over the bridge have been held up owing to the failure of the county council to complete the work; and that the farmers who have suffered losses because of the dislocation of traffic propose taking proceedings against the county council; and whether, in the circumstances, he is prepared to sanction the rates of wages proposed by the county council, so that the work can be resumed on the rebuilding of the bridge.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Wicklow Strike.
I am aware that men employed on the rebuilding of Newrath Bridge, Rathnew, have been on strike. According to the records of my Department the strike took place on the 28th June, three days after a resolution was passed by the Wicklow County Council proposing that the workers engaged on the reconstruction of the bridge be paid 1/- per hour so as to give due recognition to these workers as skilled labourers. The council's resolution of the 23rd June did not reach the Department until the 26th June, so that it is wrong for the Deputy to attribute the strike to the non-approval in my Department of the rate of wages sought by the strikers. The reconstruction of bridges forms part of the work involved on the maintenance and construction of roads by county councils, and no approval could be given to any increase in wages to labourers employed in connection with the rebuilding of the bridge for the reasons stated in the resolution of the county council of the 23rd June. In fact work in connection with the rebuilding of bridges in other portions of Wicklow County has been carried out by labourers at the rate payable to road workers.
I am not prepared to assent to the increased demands made in the case of Newrath Bridge. I am not aware of the proposed legal proceedings to which the Deputy refers.
If the Minister is not aware of it, I may say that his Department has already received notice from the county manager of the receipt of a letter from a solicitor. The Minister must be aware that it cannot be maintained that men working four feet in water, building up pillars, are engaged on road work. That is what the Department contends is road work, but no reasonable person will agree with the Department in the contention that men working in four feet of water for eight hours each day are doing road work.
I do not think they do anything more in this matter than normal road work which is done all over the country.
With your permission, Sir, I propose to raise this matter on the adjournment.