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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 18 Apr 1944

Vol. 93 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Turf Workers' Wages.

asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he has received proposals from the County Manager of Kildare for increases in the wages of persons employed by the county council in the cutting of turf; and, if so, when it is proposed to sanction the increased rates of wages.

Proposals were received towards the middle of last month for an increase in rates of workers employed by the Kildare County Council on turf production and sanction to the new rates proposed was communicated to the county council on the 30th ultimo except in the case of slanesmen. In their case the new rate is much in excess of the rate of wages paid to similar workers in surrounding counties and it is not intended to sanction an increase of the amount proposed.

Will the Minister say if it is proposed to sanction any increase at all in the case of the slanesmen over last year's rate?

I think that is a separate question. I am only referring to the proposals which have actually been received.

The Minister has got a definite proposal in respect of the slanesmen. Will he say whether that proposal is being sanctioned in full, and, if not, if it is being sanctioned in part?

No sanction has been given to the proposals relating to slanesmen.

asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state if he received a number of proposals from local authorities and other bodies during the past two years urging him to provide better working conditions for turf workers employed by local authorities; whether he is aware that large numbers of persons are refusing to register at labour exchanges in turf areas because they will not work for the low rates of wages sanctioned by him; and if he will now authorise the local authorities concerned to pay a minimum wage of £3 per week to all persons employed on turf production this year.

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. I am not aware that there is any general dissatisfaction with the working conditions in connection with turf production, nor am I aware that persons who are unemployed are refusing to register at employment exchanges in turf areas. As a matter of fact, the maximum numbers employed in turf production at the first of the present month was about 40 per cent greater than the numbers similarly employed at the same time last year. The number actually engaged in cutting the 1944 crop is more than double the number similarly employed at this time last year. The reply to the last portion of the question is in the negative.

Is it not a fact that you received last year, from the Offaly County Council, a resolution, which was unanimously passed by that body, recommending a minimum hourly rate of 1/-? Is it not a fact that that resolution was received in your Department, despite what you say here to-day?

I am dealing with this year.

The Minister stated he did not receive any resolution or recommendations during the past two years. I assert that he received a resolution last year on the lines indicated. Is the Minister denying that? The Minister should not be allowed to tell a lie.

The Minister is not telling a lie.

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