asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that Mr. Michael Cunningham, a married man with a young family, who was employed by the Forestry Branch in Carna Park, near Athlone, County Westmeath, has been dismissed from his employment without any explanation and replaced by a single man; and, if so, if he will state what were the circumstances under which Mr. Cunningham was dismissed, and if he is prepared to give him employment during the coming year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dismissal of Forestry Employee.
Mr. Cunningham was one of three men employed at Carna Park last summer. From the end of September there was work only for two men and Mr. Cunningham was paid off as being considered the least suitable of the three. The man who is referred to as having replaced him was in fact in the Department's employment at the same time as Cunningham and his services were retained up to the end of March when he too was paid off, there being only work enough for one man. The one man retained had acted as head labourer and is considered the most suitable.
It is unlikely that extra labour will be required at Carna Park during the summer, but if any additional men are required they will be recruited in the ordinary way through the local employment exchange, preference being given to men in receipt of the higher rates of unemployment assistance.