asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that, notwithstanding the undertaking given by the Great Southern Railways Company in March, 1925, to the effect that the Company had no intention of importing locomotives, a large consignment of finished parts, the complete requirements for about sixteen locomotives, have since been imported, and are being assembled at the Inchicore Railway Works; that the necessary plant, machinery, and skilled labour are available for the manufacture of such requirements at Inchicore; that the shopmen are at present and have for some months past been working on short time, and that a considerable number of men have been dismissed; if he can state whether these locomotives will require alterations to suit the Irish standard railway gauge of five feet and three inches; if he will inquire from the Railways Company as to why these locomotives or parts of locomotives were purchased when, it is stated, they could have been manufactured at Inchicore and the working of short time avoided.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - IMPORTATION OF LOCOMOTIVE PARTS.
I am informed by the Great Southern Railways Company that they have been able to acquire on very favourable terms locomotive parts which are being assembled at Inchicore. No completed locomotives have been imported, nor is it the intention of the Company to do so. The importation, it is stated, is necessary for the reason, amongst others, that the capacity of the works at Inchicore does not enable the Company to deal with the total amount of work required to be done.
Mr. DOYLE
Arising out of that, may I ask if any account has been taken of the fact that if these locomotives were worth the cost, they probably would have been purchased by the English Railway Companies, where there would be no conversion of the gauge?
I would like to get notice of that question.
Mr. BYRNE
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the total value of engines and engine parts, boilers and machinery imported by the Great Southern Railways Company since the new Board came into existence; if he will take steps to see that no further importations take place of any goods that can be made in the Saorstát by citizens of the Saorstát; if he is aware that the workshops of the railways and the workers are capable of making all the engines, boilers and waggons required, and that whilst the money for this work is being sent out of the country many hundreds of skilled and unskilled men who were formerly employed at this class of work are now seeking employment.
I am informed by the Great Southern Railways Company that the value of the engine parts, etc., mentioned by the Deputy, is £34,000. It would require legislation to prevent the Company importing goods which, it is stated, is necessary for the reason, amongst others, that the capacity of the works at Inchicore does not enable the Company to deal with the total amount of work required to be done.
Is the President aware that it was only quite recently that a large number of men were dismissed from the Westland Row Works, and that there was plenty of capacity there to make those engines, and to give much-needed employment to those who are at present drawing the dole?
That is a matter of which I am not aware.
Will the President make inquiries?
I think the Deputy had better put down a question, and I will undertake to have it answered.