asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs (a) the rate of wages per week being paid to the auxiliary postman at Laytown post office, County Meath, (b) the number of hours per day for which he is employed, and (c) the rate of wages and the hours of employment of the previous auxiliary postman employed at Laytown.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wages of Meath Auxiliary Postman.
44.
The figures are (a) £4 12s. 0d.; (b) 4 hrs. 20 mins.; (c) £5 8s. 3d. per week and 4 hrs. 20 mins. daily. Auxiliary postmen are paid at an hourly rate which varies in accordance with age and length of service.
In view of the fact that the area is at present being built up and that there are quite a number of extra houses there, would the Minister explain why a recent attempt was made by the Department to reduce the number of hours spent on duty by the postman?
That is a separate question and, as the Deputy has not given me notice of it, I have not got the information. I am not aware that any attempt was made by the Department to reduce the number of hours.
The Minister should be well aware of it because representations were made to him before they were made to me.
No representations were made to me in connection with an alleged attempt by the Department to reduce the number of hours.
Then the Minister's local organisation are slipping up.
I do not know what the Deputy is talking about. He is trying to get out of his obligations in this matter. The rates of pay for auxiliary postmen are settled at the Departmental Council to which the trade unions are a party and he is being paid the appropriate rate for auxiliary postmen, settled by agreement.
Surely the Minister does not think he will twist out of it in that way? Here is an educated young man who is doing his job as a postman and an attempt is being made by the Department to reduce the number of hours he works so that he will consequently get less pay.
The Deputy is making allegations without any foundation in fact.
The Minister told us all he knows is what he has been told.
The Minister had representations.
I had no representations seeking to have the hours reduced.