asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that the appointment of a cottage rent and water rate collector was recently made by the Cork county manager as a result of competitive examination and interview; if he will state the subjects of the examination and who set the papers and conducted the interview; further, if he will state the total marks awarded for the examination and the interview and what marks were given for service in the Defence Forces; whether any preference was given to married and unemployed men; whether the position was allotted to a man who already had whole-time employment; and if so, if he will make a statement on this aspect of the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Appointment of Rent Collector in County Cork.
On the 13th January, 1947, the assistant county manager for North Cork made an appointment to the part-time post of cottage and water rent collector. The appointment was made as the result of a written examination and interview by a selection board. The subjects of the written examination were English and Arithmetic, and for the interview General Knowledge and Irish. Marks were awarded for education and experience and general suitability. The examination and interview were conducted by experienced public officials but it is not considered desirable to publish their names. The total marks awarded were 500 apportioned as to 200 for examination and 300 for interview. Marks for service in the Defence Forces were allotted in accordance with the terms of the circular letter issued by my Department on the 27th November, 1946, in relation to resettlement of members of the Defence Forces. I am informed that in assessing marks for general suitability definite preferential marks were given to married and unemployed applicants. I am informed that the successful applicant is employed for only a few hours per week, at a salary at the rate of £20 per annum, conducting a farm costing scheme at Mitchelstown creamery under the supervision of Professor M. Murphy, University College, Cork.
Is the Minister aware that the man who got this position is the only son of a farmer with 140 acres of land? Is he further aware that only 15 marks were allotted for service in the Defence Forces?
I am not aware of that. I have no knowledge as to the parentage of the person appointed. I am not aware that only 15 marks were allotted for service in the Defence Forces.
May I ask the Minister how many marks were allotted for service in the Defence Forces?
I shall endeavour to ascertain that. I am informed by the county manager, as I have already stated, that marks for service in the Defence Forces were allotted in accordance with the terms of a circular letter issued by my Department on 27th November last.
Will the Minister say if the assistant county manager for North Cork, Mr. P.C. Murphy, was asked as to what position this man really held before making the appointment in view of the Minister's statement that this man did not hold any other position?
I have not said that the person did not hold any other position. I have said that he held an appointment at a salary of £20 per annum conducting a farm costing scheme at Mitchelstown creamery under the supervision of Professor M. Murphy. That information has been furnished to me by the county manager for Cork.
Since it was considered necessary to have a written examination in English for this position, why was it considered unnecessary to have a written examination in Irish?
I am afraid I shall have to put that to the county manager. Presumably an oral knowledge of Irish was what was sought.
Do I understand the Minister to say that it was not necessary to have a written examination in Irish?
Apparently not.
Would the Minister say why that is so?
Because it was not an appointment in a Gaeltacht area.
It is in Cork. Will the Minister say whether, if a county surgeon were being appointed in County Cork, he would be required to have a knowledge of Irish?
The Deputy apparently is under a misapprehension as to what the Minister's functions are in a matter of this sort.
Oh, no.
I beg the Deputy's pardon, I think he is. The appointment of a person to a medical post in the gift of a local authority is a matter reserved to the Local Appointments Commissioners. The qualifications are set out by the Minister for Local Government in consultation with the Local Appointments Commissioners. This is a case of a minor post under a local authority and the power of appointment in that case is vested in the manager.
I was only looking for information, which I thought the Minister, knowing so much about the matter, might be able to give me. I thought he might have interested himself in the question why, if a written examination in English was considered necessary for this post, a written examination in Irish was unnecessary.
That is a matter which is in the discretion of the manager. The post is a minor one— the part-time post of cottage and water rent collector.