asked the Minister for Lands whether, in view of his Department's proposal to pay forestry workers the same rates as are paid to county council road workers in all counties where forestry workers are employed, he will explain why it is proposed not to pay County Dublin forestry workers the same rates as are payable to road workers in that county, but instead, to base their wages on those of County Wicklow road workers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Forestry Workers' Wages.
It is not the intention to fix forestry labourers' wages at parity with local road workers' rates in all districts. For example, forestry labourers will be paid 62/- a week in counties where road workers are paid less than that amount.
In County Dublin the road workers' rate of wages is obviously influenced by the special circumstances obtaining in the immediate vicinity of Dublin City. Forestry workers in this county are employed in districts adjoining County Wicklow, and it is considered more appropriate that they should get the same treatment as their fellow-workers in the latter county.