asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state what is the reason for the placing of notices in Employment Exchanges inviting further applications for employment on the Shannon scheme, in view of the President's and the Minister's statements that Messrs. Siemens-Schuckert had already received 6,000 applications for work on the scheme.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - EMPLOYMENT ON THE SHANNON SCHEME.
DOMHNALL O MUIRGHEASA
The only notice I am aware of was issued more than a month ago, and its purpose was to have available the ordinary machinery of the employment exchanges for fitting the workers to the jobs for which they are required.
In view of the fact that numbers of workers who are signing for unemployment benefit are under the impression that unless they signify their willingness to accept work on the Shannon scheme at the wages now offered they will be deprived of benefit would the Minister have instructions issued to have this notice withdrawn, as, according to his own statement, more applications have been received for work than are required?
I do not intend to have the notice withdrawn. The notice ostensibly does one thing, but there is certain machinery behind it with regard to getting people marked out in the different sections for the particular type of work required. Merely because, in bulk, a big number have applied, does not assume, and cannot be taken to mean, that there will be, say, a special number of one type or section of men required for the number of skilled posts open under the scheme. The point to which the Deputy refers will not cause any danger, because each individual case will be considered in accordance with the terms of the Unemployment Insurance Acts, and if there is not employment for a man of a particular type applying then his case will be decided on that fact in accordance with the Acts.