asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state what are the difficulties which prevent county council road-workers from being paid their wages weekly; and if he will state whether he will cause special inquiry to be made into the matter with a view to seeing that, at least in counties where the council decides that these difficulties can be overcome, arrangements will be made to have the wages paid weekly.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Weekly Payment of Road Workers' Wages.
The difficulties arise in connection with the increased checking and certification that would be necessary and the diversion of the services of technical officers to this work. It is open to local authorities to pay wages weekly subject, of course, to the prescribed safeguards against irregular payments. The matter has been examined on more than one occasion and county councils generally have not found it feasible to adopt a system of weekly payments. In part of one county it appears to have been tried and abandoned.
What particular type of technical officers will require to give their services in this matter?
The difficulty arises in diverting workers, for example, assistant engineers from inspection work to accountancy work and the provision of paymasters to ensure that checks are made in regard to the employment of the men and the amount of remuneration which will be given to them.
If a county council decides that these difficulties can be overcome, is it a fact that there will be no objection on the part of the Minister to the payment of wages weekly?
There is no objection on the part of the Minister, provided that the Public Bodies Orders are fully complied with and that adequate steps are taken to guard against any fraud.