asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that a number of milesmen employed on the Cavan and Leitrim section of the Great Southern Railways have received notice of dismissal; that in issuing these notices the company did not take into consideration the question of seniority; that men from outside the area are being employed on casual work on this section of the line, and if he will make representations to the company with a view to those dismissed milesmen being employed on this casual work.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cavan and Leitrim Railway Milesmen.
I am informed by the Great Southern Railways Company that owing to the introduction of certain mechanical appliances the services of a number of men engaged on the maintenance of the permanent way are being dispensed with strictly on the basis of seniority of service. These reductions have not yet been fully carried out, and, in the interim period, to keep each gang up to its proper strength, it is necessary, in some instances, to retain a man of short service. This will be rectified automatically when the whole scheme has been fully completed, which should be in the course of a few weeks.
With regard to the second part of the question, the company state that the exigencies of the service demand that in cases of certain work men from other depots outside a particular section should be temporarily drafted to carry out such work. These cases are generally those affecting the building trades, and are few in number, so far as the Cavan and Leitrim section is concerned.