asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that a number of men from Glencutane, Killorglin, County Kerry, who were in receipt of unemployment assistance were refused employment on the county council road scheme operating adjacent to their homes but were compelled to work on a county council stone-crushing scheme four miles distant where the hours of employment are from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. summer time and the rate of pay is 7/3 per day as compared with 9/4 per day which would be obtained by them if they were employed on the regular county council road scheme near their homes, and whether, in view of these facts, he will have an investigation carried out at the earliest possible date with a view to ensuring that employees on these schemes are assigned for duty as near as possible to their homes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Employment Schemes.
I am having the matter investigated and will convey the result to the Deputy in due course.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the duties of deputy surveyor are now being carried out by what we call travelling gangers, and that there is growing dissatisfaction with the procedure adopted by these men? Will the Minister have an inquiry held into the whole matter of the employment of these road workers in Kerry? They are not getting a fair deal from these officers and I ask that this should be investigated as an urgent matter.
The Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position to make a statement on these allegations which he makes and which are primarily a matter for the local authority; but he can have my assurance that they will be investigated. A copy of the question has gone down to the county manager, to have an investigation carried out.