asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that large numbers of men engaged on turf work at North Wall and Phoenix Park have received notice of the termination of their employment; and, if so, whether it is proposed to start relief schemes or large-scale building operations in the City or County of Dublin to provide alternative employment for the men in question.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dismissal of Dublin Turf Men.
Mr. Byrne
asked the Minister for Finance if he will state whether any work schemes have been arranged to afford employment to approximately 400 men who have received notice of the termination of their employment with Fuel Importers, Limited, at the East Wall and Phoenix Park fuel dumps, Dublin, or others similarly employed whose employment may terminate soon; if not, whether such work schemes are in preparation and when they are likely to commence.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 40 together. The need and the feasibility of providing alternative work, through the medium of employment schemes, for the workers referred to by the Deputies, is under consideration. I must point out, however, that the employment of these workers with Fuel Importers, Limited was of a temporary character.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the men concerned are under the impression that they were promised that alternative employment would be provided, through work schemes promoted by the Government, immediately on the cessation of this temporary employment with Fuel Importers, Limited? Can he give me any indication at all as to when such work schemes to provide alternative employment are likely to begin?
The reply is the same as that which I have given to the Deputy's question—the matter is under consideration.
May I remind the Parliamentary Secretary that last week the Minister for Finance, discussing this matter in the Dáil, said: "When we get them at the employment exchanges offering themselves for work we will give them work. We are not going to give them easy money. We are not going to give unemployment money so long as there is work available for them." The men employed by Fuel Importers are now under notice. The Minister for Finance has made that statement as meaning that work will be available for these men. May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary to say whether it is correct that work will be available, or is it not correct?
That is a separate question.
I am not trying to put the Parliamentary Secretary in a hole.
Oh, no.
These men are being paid off to-morrow. Some of them are under the impression that they may get work when they go to the employment exchange. They want to know whether that is so or not. If there is work for them, their immediate future is secure. If there is not work for them they will have to make other arrangements. Is it or is it not true that there is work for them?
They are not yet in the employment exchanges.
They will be there to-morrow. Their work ceases to-morrow.
I wonder does the Deputy realise how many are at the employment exchanges at the moment. There are 7,000 at the moment; there were 11,000 when I took office.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the representatives of these workers who approached me were under the impression that assurances had been given to a deputation which had gone earlier to the Department of Industry and Commerce that alternative work would be available? Will there be work available to these men in this week or in this month? Can any answer be given to that question?
Might I ask if the persons who waited on the Deputy were the same persons who formed the deputation to the Department of Industry and Commerce?
No, they were not.
Did the persons who waited on the Deputy say to him that they had been promised alternative work by the Department of Industry and Commerce?
It was explained to me that the deputation which went to the Department of Industry and Commerce was drawn from checkers and timekeepers. The men I saw were just ordinary workers employed on the scheme. They were under the impression that the deputation from the checkers and timekeepers were given a promise, but they had no personal knowledge of the promise.
And the Deputy has no knowledge at all as to what happened but that does not prevent him from making an assertion here.
I am not making an assertion. Was there a promise given? Was a promise held out? I am not mentioning this merely to score a point. If the Government can give this work I will give them all the credit they can get for it and all the votes. Four hundred men will be paid off to-morrow and 2,000 in the next month. Is there any effort being made to find alternative employment for them? The men themselves want to know.
Of course there is.
I have told the Deputy the matter is under consideration. I assure him that it is not the wish of the Government that these men should be out of employment. I ask him to wait for some little time and I assure him that these men will not be left unemployed.
How long must I wait?
A very short while.