The public works consisted of building roads, walls and bridges for a salary of 8 pence per day. This strenuous work program was introduced at a time when the people were starving and weak. The salary was not sufficient for the people to regain their health or feed their families. To make matters worse the intense labour did little to advance the country with useable structures. From the Book: The Truth Behind The Irish Famine: Signed copies at www.jerrymulvihill.com