asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that the rate of wages at present being paid to labourers employed by the Office of Public Works on rural improvement schemes is less than both the prevailing Agricultural Wages Board rate and the local authorities' rate, and if he will make an order to bring the present rate at least to the same level as the local authorities' rate.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Board of Works Labourers' Wages.
In accordance with previous practice, the rates of wages on rural improvement schemes administered by the Special Employment Schemes Office have been adjusted with effect as from the 3rd January last, the date on which the minimum agricultural rates were increased.
The question asked whether the rate would be brought up to the level of the local authority rate and not the agricultural rate. Has any consideration been given to that matter?
Our general idea is to increase the wages to the rates prevailing in agriculture and work of that description in particular counties and in other counties to bring it up to the standard of county council road workers' wages, because we have the feeling that either of these sets of workers is as important as the workers on our schemes.
Are we to take it then that the policy of the Board of Works is to fix wages on the basis of the rate fixed for the poorest farmer, or are they going to set a headline?