asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the date or dates in respect of the period from the 1st February, 1949, to date on which the staff of engineers in the Office of Public Works was increased; the number of additional engineers employed on each date and the number appointed to established positions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Public Works Engineers.
Since the 1st February, 1949, two engineers have been appointed to the staff of the Office of Public Works, of whom one was appointed to an established position. As I stated some time ago, a considerable number of established appointments of engineers will be made as soon as the requirements of the Civil Service Regulation Acts permit, which, I hope, will be in the near future.
I should like to have a definition from the Parliamentary Secretary as to what is meant by the "near future". At a dinner given in Galway by the engineers on 5th February, the Parliamentary Secretary is quoted as stating that within the next few months the Board of Works would be looking for Irish engineers here, and also some of those who had gone to foreign lands, for drainage, on a permanent basis in this country. When will that promise be fulfilled?
I repeat it word for word, which is breaking the Deputy's heart.
I should like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary if he will state what is the definition of a few months in his estimate. It is now over three months ago since the statement was made and it is not breaking my heart. The only thing that is breaking my heart and the hearts of many other Deputies is that the Parliamentary Secretary is always talking through his hat with nothing behind it.
Do not be talking fudge.