asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether he is aware that in dispensing with the services of permanent labourers of the Engineering Branch of his Department, men are being discharged without consideration as to whether (a) they are married men with families; (b) they have some years of unbroken service, and (c) they are efficient in their work; if he will have inquiry made as to the foregoing and undertake that men to be discharged first would be single men, and with the shorter periods of service, thus ensuring that married men with dependants would be the last to be discharged, and that such men who are proficient should get special consideration; further, whether those men who come under the above categories and were due for discharge on Friday, 31st May, will be retained pending reconsideration of their cases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Discharge of Post Office Labourers.
In such cases the order of discharge takes into account the length of service, efficiency and family circumstances of the workmen concerned. While every effort is made to meet cases of special hardship, due regard must be had for the claims of men with and by reason of longer service. The men discharged will be given preference when work becomes available.