asked the Minister for Health if he will state whether he proposes to increase the wages of farm workers employed at Portrane Mental Hospital, Donabate, County Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mental Hospital Farm Workers.
I have under consideration a recommendation made by the Grangegorman Mental Hospital Joint Board that the minimum basic rate of pay for farm workers in its employment should be fixed at £4 a week. The Agricultural Wages (Minimum Rates) Order, 1948, has fixed the minimum rate payable to agricultural workers in the county borough and part of the County of Dublin as from 15th March, 1948, at £3 5s. 0d. for a 54-hour week. The farm workers employed by the mental hospital authority work a 48- hour week, for which they receive £3 5s. 0d. In addition, these workers are paid 4/- per week as harvest money for the six months from May to October, inclusive, each year. They also enjoy security of employment, special sick leave privileges, and the full superannuation benefits of the Mental Treatment Act, 1945. In the circumstances, and having regard to the wages and conditions of employment of agricultural workers attached to other institutions, the rates of remuneration of the farm workers referred to could not be regarded as inadequate.
I take it then that the Minister proposes to reject the recommendation of the Grangegorman Joint Board and not to increase the wages to £4 per week?
As I have stated in my reply, I do not consider that under the present circumstances the farm workers employed are not being adequately paid, and, in view of the repercussions throughout the country throughout the agricultural community, I do not think that I would be justified at this moment in accepting the proposals of the board regarding these wages.