asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that workers engaged on rural improvement schemes are not insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts; and whether he will arrange for the insurance of such workers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Insurance of Workers.
Most, if not all, rural improvement schemes directly or indirectly subserve agriculture and many of the workers engaged thereon are employed in agriculture within the meaning of the Unemployment Insurance Acts. Employment in agriculture is specifically excepted from the scope of unemployment insurance by paragraph (a) of Part II of the First Schedule to the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920. With regard to the last part of the question I would refer the Deputy to the statement I made on the Vote for the Department of Social Welfare, in which I indicated that the whole position with regard to social services is being examined with a view to unification, and that a scheme would be announced in due course. This announcement will include the decisions taken on questions of the scope of social insurance, including that covered by the Deputy's suggestion.
Will the Minister say how these different arrangements will works out as between gangers on the works who are insured and ordinary workers who are not insured under the Insurance Acts? In view of the fact that a very substantial part of the work consists in the erection of bridges and the making of roads, how does the Minister relate it to agriculture?
All I can say is that I must admit that there are a lot of anomalies that must be cleared up under our unification scheme.