asked the Minister for Finance if he will state what is the reason of the stoppage of work on a turf development scheme at Shragh, Doonbeg, County Clare; what wages are demanded by the workers on that scheme, and whether, in view of the fact that this work is not a relief scheme, but an undertaking in connection with turf development on a commercial basis, he will take steps to see that the county council rate of wages is paid to workers employed thereon.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Clare Turf Development Scheme.
Mr. Hogan
The Minister is informed that the reason of the stoppage of work referred to is that the workmen went on strike to obtain a wage of 30/- per week. The wages paid, in all areas of the Saorstát on peat development schemes, is at the rate of 24/- per week. These schemes are, in fact, financed from the Vote for Employment Schemes. Most of the workmen employed on them are agricultural labourers, small landholders or their relatives who work on the land; the rate of wages is, therefore, fixed in relation to the general standard of wages paid to agricultural labourers. A large proportion of the workmen employed on peat development schemes are themselves beneficiaries, inasmuch as they are members of the co-operative turf societies for which the work is done.
Mr. Hogan
Does the Parliamentary Secretary think that that statement is in line with the statement he made in a letter to me on the 31st December, 1936, in which he said:
"It has been decided to set the wages for all work done by direct labour under the Office of Public Works at 32/- per week, having effect as from the 1st January, 1937"?
I am perfectly certain that I never made any such statement in relation to peat development work.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary say if, when arriving at the rate of wages to be paid for this work and when basing it on the local agricultural rate of wages, it was taken into account that work done in connection with turf-cutting and turf-saving is paid for at a higher rate than the rate paid for ordinary agricultural work? Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of that: that the rate of wages paid to men engaged in saving and cutting turf is higher than the rate paid for ordinary agricultural work?
I do not accept that as a fact.
If the Parliamentary Secretary would be good enough to consult some of his colleagues, who have knowledge of the matter, perhaps they would set him right on it.
Mr. Hogan
Either the Parliamentary Secretary is wrong or I am wrong, and that is why I want to put a further question to him. Does he think that I am misquoting the terms of the letter which I received from him, and in which he definitely and explicitly stated:
"It has been decided to set the wages for all work done by direct labour under the Office of Public Works at 32/- per week, having effect as from the 1st January, 1937"?