asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the number of (a) gangers; (b) labourers employed by the Irish Land Commission in the months of January, 1948 and 1949.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Commission Employees.
In the year ended 31st December, 1948, 266 gangers were employed, as compared with 239 in the previous 12 months, and an average of 1,593 labourers as compared with 1,055.
If the Deputy cares to repeat his question in a few weeks' time, I hope to be then able to give him the precise information he requests.
Is the Minister not aware that a number of Land Commission gangs all over the country have had their employment terminated and that a number of Land Commission gangers have been taken on by the Board of Works, who were almost in permanent employment with the Land Commission? Will he state if the £160,000 estimated in his Vote for General Improvements for the year 1948-49 was expended when these men were let off?
That is a separate question.