asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he will arrange to give preference to unemployed tillage inspectors when recruiting staff for the farm buildings improvement scheme and the new land reclamation scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployed Tillage Inspectors.
No tillage inspectors have become unemployed and none are now unemployed.
Since the institution of compulsory tillage a considerable number of temporary tillage supervisors were employed every year. It was the practice prior to 1948 to declare most of these supervisors redundant about July each year and to re-employ such of their number as were suitable when the next tillage season opened.
In 1948, however, when they became redundant in the ordinary course of events, measures were initiated to procure alternative employment for them and instructions given that in future vacancies in the Department of Agriculture's unestablished service, they were to receive preferential consideration where they proved suitable for the available employment. This instruction remains in force.
Could the Minister tell the House how many of these temporary supervisors secured employment other than employment in his Department?
No, I could not. We make it a strict rule not to inquire into the personal affairs of these men when they are not in the employment of the Department, but a record is kept of their names, and, when temporary employment which may prove suitable to them is available, they will be communicated with.
Is the Minister aware that many of these supervisors are known to have emigrated since he dismissed them last August?
I do not get that impression, but, if it is so, perhaps they will come home again when we have work to give them, which, I expect, will be in the course of the present financial year.