asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he has received a proposal from the county manager in Carlow for the payment of overtime to the town overseer in respect of the performance of extra work between 10 p.m. and 3.30 a.m.; and if he will state what is the cause of the delay in sanctioning the payment.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Carlow Town Overseer.
No proposal of the nature referred to is at present before my Department.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary say whether it is not a fact that a proposal was submitted to his Department and a decision communicated to the local authority on the matter?
Not that I am aware of. I think the Deputy is misinformed.
The applicant has been informed in the terms I am now quoting.
There must be some confusion somewhere.
I will undertake to make inquiries for my own part. Will the Parliamentary Secretary undertake to ascertain whether, in fact, the application has not been already decided?
I cannot see, from the information before me, that it is necessary to make fresh inquiries. Perhaps the matter arose out of a communication from the manager asking for a direction as to whether Mr. Geoghegan who, I understand, was, in fact, a ganger, not an overseer, was entitled to be paid for overtime; and, if so, whether the rate should be calculated on the remuneration of £3 per week or on the remuneration of an ordinary workman. On the 8th March, 1944, the town clerk was informed that the matter was one for decision by the council, acting in consultation with their legal advisor. There has been no communication before the Department that I am aware of, since then.
My information on the matter is that the applicant was informed that the Department was not prepared to sanction payment. Do I understand that the position now is that the local authority has power to pay, subject to consultation with their legal adviser?
The town clerk was informed that the matter was one for decision by the council acting in consultation with their legal adviser.
The applicant was informed in different terms.