asked the Minister for Finance if he will state, in respect of each Government Department, the number of persons employed as temporary messengers, with continuous employment for ten years, 15 years, 20 years, 25 years, 30 years, and upwards of 30 years, whose employment was terminated between the 11th December, 1945, and the 31st March, 1947, for reasons other than misconduct; and if he will state what general steps were taken to provide them with a pension or gratuity upon retirement.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Position of Temporary Messengers.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will state, in respect of each Government Department, the number of persons employed as temporary messengers, on the 31st March, 1947, with continuous employment for ten years, 15 years, 20 years, 25 years, 30 years, and upwards of 30 years; and if he will state whether it is intended to establish these officers.
I propose to take questions Nos. 5 and 6 together.
The statistics available do not contain the information sought by the Deputy and the extraction of the particulars required would entail an entirely disproportionate amount of research.
It may be taken that where the individual messenger had on retirement satisfied the conditions prescribed by the Superannuation Act, 1887, a gratuity was awarded to him pursuant to that Act. It is not the intention to offer established posts to the temporary messenger class as a whole, but the opportunity of securing establishment has been afforded to this class at a series of limited competitions. Fifty-seven persons of the messenger and analogous grades secured establishment through the medium of these competitions—47 since 1st January, 1945.
Arising out of the answer in so far as it refers to Question 6, is the Minister aware that he was able to give me information in respect of the position in March, 1945, or in December, 1945? Will the Minister say what has changed the position that a record is no longer kept? Is the Minister not aware that many of these positions are not temporary positions, that some of the persons concerned are men who have been attached to this establishment for 20 or 25 years, and does he say that it is not the intention of the Government to establish men of that particular class although they have been in continuous employment on duties that are absolutely necessary and are persons with full qualifications for those positions?
I have told the Deputy that 47 of them have been established since the 1st January, 1945.
Am I to understand that, that having been done, the Minister is no longer prepared to keep a record of these men in relation to their classes in so far as they may be classed according to the number of years they served?
We have records but they are not exactly in the state that would enable me to answer the Deputy's question readily.