asked the Minister for Finance if he will grant a five day week to the workers on the Killimor, County Galway, drainage scheme and on other such schemes, as has been granted to county council and similar workers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Galway Drainage Workers.
21.
Workers on arterial drainage schemes are on a five day week for nine months of the year. During November, December and January they work a 5½ day week.
The possibility of extending the five day week all the year round is under consideration, but there are practical difficulties in the way, and I can give no undertaking that a change can be made.
Is it not true that the Parliamentary Secretary's Office and other Departments of State have refused to give the five-day week all the year round on the ground that the requisite number of hours to make up 45 cannot be worked? Is that not the reply that various Departments have given to the trade unions? I am rather surprised that a different reply is being given to Deputy Kitt today, or are we now to have Ministers negotiating with Fianna Fáil TDs instead of with the trade unions?
I have not the faintest idea of what Deputy Tully is talking about. I have given a pretty accurate reply to the question asked.
I think the Parliamentary Secretary knows quite well what I am talking about. Is it not true that his Office have refused pointblank to consider the granting of a five-day week during the winter period, on the ground that the requisite number of hours cannot be worked?
No, it is not true that the Office of Public Works has refused pointblank to consider the question of a five-day week all the year round.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary like a copy of a letter I have in my possession stating that? Would he like a copy to refresh his memory?
I have sufficient information in my own Office to tell me all I want to know.
The Parliamentary Secretary will have some further information this week-end.
The Parliamentary Secretary wrote the question for Deputy Kitt himself.
Deputy Tully's suggestion of a pointblank refusal on the part of the Office of Public Works to consider representations in this matter is just nonsense.
Of course, it is true.