asked the Minister for Finance the number of men employed on the maintenance of the Brosna Drainage District for each year since the completion of the scheme; and the amount of State funds provided annually by his Department for this work.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drainage Maintenance Work.
20.
The information sought is in the form of a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to have circulated with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:—
|
Year |
Average number of men employed |
Provision under Subhead J.5 in Vote or Estimate for Public Works and Buildings. |
|
£ |
||
|
1956-57 |
46 |
18,000 |
|
1957-58 |
42 |
18,000 |
|
1958-59 |
36 |
18,000 |
|
1959-60 |
41 |
17,000 |
|
1960-61 |
35 |
16,000 |
|
1961-62 |
35 |
17,000 |
|
1962-63 |
39 (Average for April and May) |
18,500 |
The cost of maintenance of drainage schemes executed under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, is recoverable from the County Council or County Councils concerned in accordance with the provisions of Section 37 of that Act.
21.
asked the Minister for Fianance the number of men employed on the maintenance of the Nenagh Drainage Scheme, County Offaly and County Tipperary; and the amount of State funds provided annually by his Department for this work since 1957.
This scheme was completed in December, 1960. The information sought is in the form of a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to have circulated with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:—
|
Year |
Average number of men employed |
Provision under Subhead J.5 in Vote of Estimate for Public Works and Buildings. |
|
£ |
||
|
1960-61 |
10 (average December, 1960—March 1961) |
3,500 |
|
1961-62 |
11 |
4,800 |
|
1962-63 |
11 (average April and May) |
5,300 |
The cost of maintenance of drainage schemes executed under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, is recoverable from the County Council or County Councils concerned in accordance with the provisions of Section 37 of that Act.
22.
asked the Minister for Finance if he proposes to increase the rates of pay for the staff and workers employed on maintenance of the Brosna Drainage Scheme in the counties of Laois, Offaly and Westmeath; when the last increase in pay was granted to them; and if he will now review the position, having regard to the cost of living and the low rates of pay provided for these workers.
Workers on the Brosna Drainage maintenance works are paid the standard rates for drainage works carried out by the Office of Public Works throughout the country. The rates were last increased with effect from 6th November, 1961, and it is not considered that a further increase or review is now warranted.
In view of the fact that the local authorities have increased the rates of pay of the workers, does the Parliamentary Secretary not consider that it is now time to review sympathetically the wages paid to these employees?
Surely the Parliamentary Secretary is aware that the Board of Works have paid a further increase of 10/- per week to the same type of workers in the Broadmeadow scheme and does it mean that there is preferential treatment for workers in Dublin which is not applied to workers in the country?
The Deputy is very well aware of the position there.
Yes, they are getting an extra 10/- a week.