asked the Minister for Finance whether the recent increase of 1d. an hour granted to labourers on arterial drainage schemes is the maximum amount which is being given to such workers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drainage Workers' Wages.
A further increase in the pay of labourers employed on arterial drainage schemes is not in contemplation at the moment.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary say if the increase of 1d. per hour was what he referred to when he stated that he did not expect to have any further references made to the wages of these workers for some time and will he say if he considers that a rate of £5 per week now applicable to these men is a fair wage for the work they are doing?
In some cases it was not a 1d. increase; it was 3d. in some cases.
Would it be correct to say that this 3d. per hour applies to the borough area of Galway and will the Parliamentary Secretary say why it was agreed to pay 3d. per hour extra in that area, or the local rate and to refuse it in other areas?
That is a separate question.
The fact of the matter is that in rural areas there were three increases given of 1d. in each case within the last three years. In the borough area there was no increase at all and the increase given in the borough area of Galway and in other borough areas was to bring them level with the increases in the rural areas.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to raise this matter on the Adjournment.