asked the Minister for Supplies if he will sanction the allowance of a special tea and sugar allowance to turf workers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tea and Sugar Allowances for Turf Workers.
Arrangements have been made this year similar to those of last year by which limited quantities of tea are made available to workers who are employed on turf cutting in organised groups of substantial size at considerable distances from their homes. Where the conditions mentioned are fulfilled, permits to obtain supplies of tea will be issued on application to my Department by the responsible person in charge of the organised group:
It is not possible to make any additional supplies available to individual workers. In cases where an extra allowance of tea is made, an appropriate special allowance of sugar will be granted.
In order to clarify the position, would the Minister give an approximate idea as to what he means by a "group of considerable size at considerable distances from their homes", because that is going to be a very contentious point in the making of representations in any of these cases?
I am afraid I could not define the circumstances any more closely than that.
Would the Minister say a group of 15 or 20 as a minimum?
I do not think it desirable that we should fix a minimum number. Regard must be had to all the circumstances.
The Minister may save a good deal of trouble by trying to do so.
The circumstances must be such that there is an organisation in existence capable of dealing with the situation.
Then the position is that any group of bog workers, working any distance from their homes, can make an application?
No; they must be working in organised groups of substantial size and at considerable distances from their homes.
"Substantial" has no meaning when you cannot define it at the moment; but any groups of workers working in an organised group can make an application?
They can certainly make an application.