asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he is aware that forestry workers employed on State forestry schemes are not covered by the Unemployment Insurance Acts; whether he will state the grounds on which such workers are excluded; and further, whether he will take steps to bring forestry workers within the scope of these Acts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - State Forestry Workers.
The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Forestry workers are specifically excepted from the scope of unemployment insurance by paragraph (a) of Part II of the First Schedule of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920. With regard to the last part of the question I would refer the Deputy to the statement I made on the Vote for the Department of Social Welfare, in which I indicated that the whole position with regard to social services is being examined with a view to unification and that a scheme would be announced in due course. This announcement will include the decisions taken on questions of the scope of social insurance, including that covered by the Deputy's suggestion.