asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether in view of the amendment made to the Emergency Powers (No. 83) Order whereby wage increases may now be granted to persons in receipt of low wages he will be prepared to sanction increases in the wages of road workers and other low paid employees of local authorities.

The Emergency Powers (No. 83) Order does not apply to employments in the service of any local authority. The variation in the application of the Emergency Powers (No. 83) Order to scheduled employments to which the Deputy refers does not, therefore, in any way affect such employments.

In view of the generosity displayed by the Minister responsible for the Emergency Powers Order, will the Minister move him to relax his attitude towards the roád workers so that they may be enabled to get an increase in their wages which is unquestionably overdue?

The people employed on the roads are better placed than the people to whom the Emergency Powers Order applies.

Thirty shillings a week in rural areas.

Is the Minister aware that in the county home in Cork, where there are men employed at £2 3s. a week, the board last November granted them an increase of 2/- and 2/6d. and that increase has not been sanctioned so far? Is the Minister prepared to sanction that increase now?

It is not an increase for road workers.

The Minister has refused to sanction an increase of 2/6d. to the road workers. I suggest he ought to be influenced by the generosity displayed under the Emergency Powers (No. 83) Order.