asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state if all turf workers employed by Bord na Móna and by local authorities are in receipt of the appropriate supplementary bread ration; and whether on occasions when such workers are on strike their bread ration is reduced to the normal scale.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Turf Workers' Bread Ration.
Supplementary bread allowances are granted to full-time turf workers employed by Bord na Móna and by local authorities but I cannot say whether all such workers have applied.
In the case of workers resident in Bord na Móna camps the supplementary rations are granted through authorisations issued to the bord. In the case of other turf workers the supplementary allowance is provided by granting a supplementary registration page to the worker. No action has been taken by my Department to withdraw supplementary rations of workers on strike.
Would the Minister not consider it reasonable then that those engaged in the private production of turf should be allocated a supplementary ration of bread? They do not go on strike and, not only are they working full time, but overtime. It is unfair that they would not be allowed an extra ration.