asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware of the hardships which are experienced by county council employees on turf and road schemes by reason of the fact that they are only paid fortnightly and whether he will issue a direction to such local bodies to pay the wages of their workers each week in order to mitigate the hardships from which such workers are at present suffering.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Council Employees.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply to a question of Deputy Davin on 17th instant when he was informed that the power to make weekly or other payments rests with the local authorities. I do not propose to issue any recommendation in the matter.
Is the Minister aware that, at a time when prices are rising rapidly, because goods are in short supply, very serious hardship is inflicted on workers in receipt of low wages, owing to the fact that a fortnight and in some cases three weeks elapse before a workman can collect his wages? Will he bear in mind the desirability of workers having some liquid assets available to purchase goods in present circumstances, and, in view of that, reconsider his decision to issue a direction to the local authorities to pay the workers their wages weekly? Their laziness in that respect should not be the cause of such hardship to the workers concerned.
I have already intimated that this is a matter entirely for the local authorities who, no doubt, will take into consideration every circumstance affecting it when it comes before them.
Does not the Minister exercise his powers over local authorities in other directions, and why will he not exercise them beneficially in this direction so as to ensure that the workmen are paid each week? That will cause no inconvenience to the local authorities. They may need to employ some additional staff, but that is no reason for keeping workers without their wages for a fortnight.