asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that the Clare County Council at its meeting on June 12th, 1950, reduced the wages of builders' labourers on schemes of house erection carried out by direct labour in the county by one penny per hour, and if he has taken any action under the provisions of Section 8 of the Housing (Financial and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1932, respecting this action by that housing authority, and, if so, if he will indicate what his action is, and what results have been achieved by it.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reduction in Labourers' Wages.
I understand that, following meetings of the Clare County Council, the wages of labourers employed by the local authority on housing schemes were in turn increased from 1/6 to 1/10 per hour; reduced to 1/8 per hour and then increased to 1/9 per hour. The question of taking action under Section 8 of the Housing (Financial and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1932, does not arise unless it is shown to the satisfaction of the Minister that throughout the erection of the houses rates of wages have not been paid or conditions of labour observed at least as advantageous to the persons employed in such erection as the appropriate rates of wages or conditions of labour generally recognised by trade unions at the commencement of such house.
Is the Minister aware that as far back as March and April, on two distinct occasions separated from each other by six or eight weeks, the county council agreed unanimously to pay 1/10 an hour to workers on building schemes in the county and is he aware that on no occasion did his Department make any reference to the action of the county council on that occasion? Is he further aware that on the 12th June the council reduced wages from 1/10 to 1/9 an hour, and will he indicate what action his Department has taken to see that conditions of employment continue as favourable on this scheme as they were at the outset? What action, if any, has his Department taken?
As I have indicated in my reply, labourers employed on direct labour housing schemes by Clare County Council were paid at the rate of 1/6 per hour from October, 1949, to February, 1950, except in Clarecastle, where a rate of 1/10 applied, due to its proximity to Ennis. On the 8th March, 1950, the county council resolved that the rate of 1/6 per hour be increased to 1/10 per hour. The manager made an order accordingly granting the increase as from the 13th February, 1950. On the 31st May, 1950, the county council resolved that the rate be reduced to 1/8 per hour. The manager made an order accordingly bringing the reduction of 2d. per hour into effect as from 5th June, 1950. The reduced rate was not, however, brought into operation. On the 12th June the county council resolved that the rate be increased to 1/9 per hour. Information regarding the meeting on the 12th June has been gleaned from a report of the meeting in the Clare Champion. The report also indicates that at the meeting Deputy Hogan proposed that the rate for labourers on housing schemes be restored to 1/10, but an amendment that the rate be 1/9 was carried by 14 votes to ten. The point is that the section as quoted by the Deputy can only be operated by the Minister if he is satisfied that a deterioration took place as against the commencement of the work.
Is the Minister satisfied that the rate of wages paid in one instance, in Clarecastle, was 1/10, and surely a deterioration has taken place when it is now 1/9?
I would draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that his question was not directed to Clarecastle but to the County Clare.