asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state whether he is aware that the Offaly County Council has given the work of raising and delivering gravel to contractors and that this decision will lead to unemployment of a number of county council workers from the 1st July, 1948, to the 1st October, 1948; and, if so, whether he will have the matter examined with a view to ensuring that the men concerned will not be deprived of their employment by the county council over this period.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment under Offaly County Council.
This matter is one primarily for the local authority. I understand that it has been the custom in Offaly to advertise for tenders for the supply and delivery of materials to the smaller by-roads, and that this year the tenders were at substantially lower prices than those at which the county council itself could supply the materials. Resulting economies should make more money available for employment on actual road work. I shall look into the matter as the Deputy suggests. I understand, however, that in Offaly the county council has experienced difficulties in securing suitable labour for road works.
In that case, will the Parliamentary Secretary ensure that those people who are to be disemployed as from the 1st July will be employed?
Surely there is nobody going to be disemployed?
Deputy MacEntee has not read the question.
We have first to procure some evidence that this work will be done by contract.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware of the fact that the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Industry and Commerce have both declared to this House that no person is going to be disemployed by reason of the cessation of the hand-won turf scheme?
It may surprise Deputy MacEntee to know that there is a scarcity of labour in Offaly.