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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Apr 1946

Vol. 100 No. 12

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rural Electrification Scheme.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he can now say when the Electricity Supply Board intend to commence work on the Rural Electrification Scheme; whether the board have considered using Irish concrete pylons instead of imported poles; and if he will make a statement on the supplies position generally in relation to this scheme.

Work on the first area is about to commence; it is intended to proceed with further areas as rapidly as the supply of the necessary materials will permit; an investigation into the problems involved in the use of concrete pylons is at present proceeding. There is a shortage of wood poles, native or foreign; material for conductors and cross arms is now freely available. It is expected that supplies of transformers, insulators, meters, etc., will be available as required.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state how the Electricity Supply Board propose to recruit labour for unskilled work in connection with the Rural Electrification Scheme; and whether men who served with the L.D.F. during the emergency will be included in a preference list.

I am proposing to the Electricity Supply Board an arrangement by which unskilled workers will be recruited in connection with the Rural Electrification Scheme as far as practicable through the local offices of my Department.

The Electricity Supply Board has decided to grant preferences to exmembers of the Defence Forces in the recruitment of staffs, on the same basis as Government Departments.

Will the Minister say whether that applies to ex-members of the Defence Forces who may retire with service pensions?

Certainly. It is not the pensionability of the members that determines the issue but their length of service.

The Minister is aware that at the present moment ex-members of the Defence Forces who have a service pension are prejudiced in getting employment through the labour exchanges and does he propose to remove that disability in connection with recruitment for the electrification scheme?

That is not correct.

It is correct.

There may be certain difficulties where applicants for employment have means but only in connection with work on relief schemes.

Will the Minister say whether an ex-member of the Defence Forces who has, say, a pension of 17/6, as many of them with long service and who are now retiring have, would be prejudiced in any way or handicapped in any way in getting employment through the labour exchange on schemes under the Electricity Supply Board?

So far as the recruitment of staff for the Electricity Supply Board is concerned, it is a matter for the board to decide what are the requirements to be met.

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