asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware of the discrepancy between the wages of Mayo County Council workers and the forestry workers employed at Cong Forest, County Mayo, and if he will take immediate steps to increase the forestry workers' wages to the council level as is the case elsewhere.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Forestry Workers' Wages.
The greater part of Cong Forest is situated in County Galway and the labourers are paid the Galway County Council rate under a general arrangement introduced in April, 1950.
Is the Minister aware that there is grave discontent amongst the workers there due to the fact that, while the forestry centre in Cong is astride the border between the two counties, the greater portion of it is in County Mayo? The difference is not so much and, in view of the fact that a great deal of discontent would be eliminated if the Mayo County Council rates were paid to them, I think the Minister should agree to that course. It would not beggar the Exchequer to do so.
The figures that have been supplied to me indicate that the greater portion of the forest is in County Galway. In any case, as the Deputy will recognise, there are a number of other forests where one portion is in one county and another in another. If we were to alter the procedure, it would involve alterations for many areas.
I cannot agree with the Minister that it would make all the difference that he suggests. Forest centres sit across the county boundaries in many areas but, in view of the discontent that has been aroused in such cases, I think the workers, for the sake of what it would cost, should get the benefit of the doubt.
Is it not a fact that the Forestry Department take advantage of the fact that the greater proportion of the forest lies in County Galway because the Galway County Council pay a lower rate of wages and that they would equally take advantage of the fact that portion of the forest lies in Mayo if the Mayo County Council were paying the lower rate of wages?