§ 32. Mr. BYRNEasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he will see that a minimum wage of not less than 30s. per week be paid to labourers in the Irish Department; if he is aware that in many parts of Ireland married men are being paid a starvation wage; and if he will state the wages paid and the holidays allowed to labourers at Dundrum, county Tipperary?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Duke)The reply to the first portion of the question is in the negative. As I have already stated in reply to previous similar questions, the rates of pay for labourers are fixed with reference to and not below the rates which prevail for similar labour in each district. The wages of the labourers permanently employed at the Dundrum forestry centre are 18s. per week. They are allowed three Bank Holidays with pay. The question of granting a war bonus in these cases is under consideration.