asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state whether he has received the recommendation of the county manager in South Tipperary, supported by the unanimous opinion of the South Tipperary County Council, that road stewards and overseers employed by the council should, in view of their work and responsibility, be placed upon a scale of wages rising by increments to a maximum of £4 10s. a week; if he will state whether he has approved of the proposal, and, if not, if he will state the grounds of his disapproval; and what action he proposes to take in relation to the recommendation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tipperary Road Stewards' and Overseers' Wages.
An emergency bonus of 3/- a week for these employees was sanctioned on 1st April. An earlier proposal in favour of an increase in the basic wage of road stewards was not approved, as it was considered that the increase should be by way of emergency bonus.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary say whether it is not a fact that the county manager reported that road stewards and overseers were inadequately paid at a rate of 10/- per day and made a recommendation that they should be raised by periodic increases to a maximum of £4 10s. per week? Will he say on what ground he disapproves of the county manager's recommendation?
The definition of a steward depends on the responsibilities of the particular official, and it would be impossible for me to discuss the matter, in view of the fact that the term covers a number of responsibilities. The manager's request was considered and the decision was to maintain the basic wage. The wages in Tipperary vary from 62/- to 78/- in the North Riding and from 56/- to 71/- in the South Riding.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the proposal of the county manager was so perfectly clear to the council as a whole that it was unanimously supported by the council, and does he consider, in view of the importance of dealing properly with the roads, immediately and in the future, and of the opinion of the county manager who says that these men require initiative, character and independence in order properly to carry out their duties, that the administration of the roads can be carried on under the supervision of men who are declared by a responsible official and by a responsible council to be inadequately paid? Has he taken into consideration the suggestion of the county manager that, in order to get the proper type of person for this work in future, adequate wages must be paid?
All the circumstances were taken into consideration.
Are we to understand then that the roads in County Tipperary, in respect of maintenance and construction, are to be supervised by persons who, in the opinion of the responsible manager and council, are in receipt of wages which are not adequate to attract men of initiative, character or independence?