asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether gangers employed on county council road work are receiving the supplementary bread allowance which is granted to all county council road workers; and if not, the reasons why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supplementary Bread Allowance.
Gangers actively engaged on road maintenance or construction are eligible for supplementary allowances of bread. In making their applications, however, to my Department, they must furnish a clear statement of the nature of their employment so as to distinguish readily between such workers and those engaged mainly on supervisory duties, who are not eligible under the scheme.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether he is prepared to grant an extra bread allowance to carters, employed by county councils, whose work takes them a considerable distance from their homes and who cannot obtain a hot meal; and if not, the reasons why.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will consider extending the supplementary bread ration to malthouse men who work long hours, beginning at 6 a.m., and who have their meals away from home.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together.
I regret that the supply position does not permit of an extension of the supplementary bread ration scheme to any additional classes of workers other than those to whom the scheme applies at present, or to whom I have intimated that it will apply if suitable administrative machinery can be devised. The total supplies of wheat and flour available to the end of June are now definitely known and there is no prospect that they can be increased. They will be barely adequate to maintain existing distribution with a minimum of carry-over stocks. A further extension of the supplementary scheme can, therefore, be effected only by reducing the general ration.