asked the Minister for Finance whether, in view of the high cost of living, he will permit persons employed on relief schemes to work for a full week during the Christmas period.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Relief Schemes.
I refer the Deputy to the answer given yesterday, 9th December, 1942, to a similar question by Deputy P.J. Fogarty.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware of the fact that Christmas is a time of abnormal expenditure for most people, and that the fact of confining workers to a maximum of four days employment per week necessarily substantially limits their income during the Christmas period? Will he agree to relax the regulations so as to enable those people to secure some increase in wages, so that they may be able to meet the additional expenditure which is inevitable for everybody at Christmas?
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the regulation allowing workers a four-day week simply means that they are receiving about 8/- per week more when they are working than if they were getting unemployment assistance?
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the fact that the Minister for Finance stated, during the discussion on the Central Bank Bill, that there was an abundance of money and of credit in this country for worthwhile schemes? Is there anything more worth while than giving a workman a full week's work for the few weeks before Christmas, so as to enable him to buy the food necessary for his wife and children? Why cannot the State credit, or the abundance of money we have been told about, be utilised for this purpose? Is feeding the people not considered worth while?
The only effect would be to give a privilege to those people who are fortunate enough to be in employment at Christmas.
The only privilege they have at present is to be hungry.
Mr. Byrne
Or on a starvation wage.