asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider introducing proposals for legislation to amend the Insurance (Intermittent Unemployment) Act, 1942, so as to provide for the payment of wet time allowances to quarry workers employed in North and South County Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Quarry Workers and Wet Time Allowances.
The Insurance (Intermittent Unemployment) Act, 1942, is at present limited in its scope to manual workers employed in the building trade. When the scheme was being formulated the question of quarry workers was considered and it was decided, in consultation with representatives of employers and workers in the building trade, to exclude such workers who are sometimes employed by builders but more frequently by others, including farmers. There has been no demand for the inclusion of quarry workers generally. During discussions which took place early in 1947 with representatives of employers' and workers' organisations in the building trade, some extensions were suggested and the parties were asked to submit particulars of classes whom it was desired to bring in, but so far they have not done so. We shall be glad, however, to consider any such representations that may be made.