asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that the men who became unemployed as a result of the closing down of the Lock and Corbally Mills, Limerick, have been registering at the Limerick Employment Exchange for a considerable period and have not yet been offered any alternative employment; and if in view of the fact that they lost their employment owing to the operation of the Shannon Scheme preference will be given to them in filling vacancies notified at the exchange.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment Exchange Preference.
I am aware that three ex-employees of the Lock Mills have been registering intermittently at the Limerick Employment Exchange since these mills closed and that it has not yet been found possible to place these men in other employment. They have been receiving unemployment benefit and are at present in receipt of unemployment assistance. Efforts have been made and will continue to be made through the employment exchange to find work suitable to their condition for them. Whether or not they can have preference for employment generally will depend not on me but on the attitude of prospective employers. So far, however, as employment financed from central funds is concerned, the three men in question belong to the class of persons who, under existing instructions, are entitled to preference.
No ex-employees of the Corbally Mills can be traced at present on the registers of the Limerick Employment Exchange.