(Clare) asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state what is the rate of wages paid by the contractors erecting labourers' cottages under the schemes initiated by the Clare Board of Health and sanctioned by his Department at Quin, Broadford, Corofin, and Sixmilebridge, County Clare, and if he is aware that the rate of wages paid is not in accordance with the provisions of the legislation under which these schemes are operating.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rates of Wages in County Clare.
As regards the rates of wages paid by contractors erecting labourers' cottages at Sixmilebridge, I would refer the Deputy to my reply of 3rd April last. The rates of wages paid at Quin, Broadford and Corofin are not available in my Department at present. I have asked the Board of Health for this information and will furnish it to the Deputy in due course.
Mr. Hogan
Arising out of the Minister's reply, I should like to know whether or not he has taken any action with reference to what I said regarding the rate of wages paid by contractors erecting labourers' cottages at Sixmilebridge, or whether the Minister will take a note regarding what I am about to say with reference to Quin, Broadford and Corofin, which is to the effect that the authority for these places is the Clare County Council, which pays 35/- a week, and that the road contractors there are not paying that rate of wages. Will the Minister take note of that?
I shall always take note of what the Deputy says at any time in the House. I did have investigations made into this matter, and I found that the rate of wages being paid on the housing scheme, about which the Deputy asked me in April last, was higher than the average rates of wages generally paid in the district.
Mr. Hogan
Is the Minister aware that the Act provides that the rate of wages paid by the best employer in the district is the rate of wages that the Act contemplates should be given, and is he also aware that, in this case, the County Council is the authority paying the highest rate of wages, and that the contractors are not paying that rate? In view of the fact that that is what is contemplated by the Act, will the Minister indicate what penalties flow from the fact that these contractors do not pay the rate of wages operating in the district?