asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that the Cork County Council has made provision in its estimates for 1944-45 for payment of a bonus of 5/- per week to road workers and 7/6 per week to carters; whether the council has accordingly made application for sanction of these bonuses; and, if so, if he is prepared to give approval; and, if not, if he will state what action he will take in the matter.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork County Council Estimates.
Cork County is one of the counties where the rate paid to road workers was higher than the agricultural rate, and as a continuance of that position would not be justified in existing conditions, in view of the national importance of agriculture, I could not approve of a further increase of 5/- a week to road workers. To do so would only encourage the seeking of employment on road work to the disadvantage of agricultural work. Accordingly, the Cork County Council was notified that an additional temporary emergency bonus not exceeding 2/- a week was being approved for road workers. In the case of carters, the bonus rate was fixed so as to bring their pay to 12/6 per day, the maximum rate prevailing in other rural areas.
Is the Minister aware that Cork County Council have made provision for this bonus on the reduced rate this year, and also that the council took into consideration that men were getting employment for only nine months of the year, bringing their wages down to under 30/- a week? I would like the Minister to reconsider the bonus to lower paid workers, as his attitude in this matter is causing disaffection all over the country.
I am afraid I cannot promise to reconsider this matter at all, if it involves a departure from the principle which I have laid down, that the rates for agricultural labour must be preferential.