asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that the Donegal County Board of Health recently accepted the tender of a contractor resident in Northern Ireland for the construction of a water supply at Carrigart; and, if so, whether it is his intention to sanction the placing of this contract with a firm domiciled outside the jurisdiction of Saorstát Eireann, or in the alternative, whether, having regard to the fact that the Minister for Agriculture in Northern Ireland made it a condition of granting a licence to the Cork and Kerry creameries, that they would not introduce Saorstát workers into Northern Ireland, he will insist on the insertion in the contract of a provision that only nationals of the Saorstát will be employed in the execution of this work.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal Water Supply.
The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The acceptance of the tender is a matter for the board of health. It is the practice to give a reasonable preference to Saorstát contractors for such works, but I understand that the tender accepted was much lower than the tenders submitted by Saorstát contractors. As regards employment of men on the work, preference must be given to local men in receipt of unemployment assistance.