asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the shortage of skilled labour available for local authority building, he will arrange to have available accurate information as to the dispersal of such labour in (a) local authority building; (b) in the building of dwellings qualifying for a grant under the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1948, and (c) other building and construction work carried out under licence from his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment of Skilled Labour.
The compilation of records to furnish information of the kind the Deputy asks for cannot be made, except at considerable trouble and expense to persons engaged in building operations and to the State. I do not think this expense is justified, particularly as the records in themselves would do little to relieve the shortage of skilled labour for local authority work.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the necessity for increasing the volume of skilled labour available for the building of houses, so that the inhuman conditions under which many of our people are forced to live may be ended, he has directed his attention towards the formulation of any scheme guaranteeing continuity of employment to building trade operatives, and if he has examined the scheme directed to this end which was put before the Labour Court by the building trade groups.
It has never been suggested to me, nor have I any reason to believe, that the absence of a guarantee of continuity of employment is retarding the completion of the housing programme. It is apparent that the implementation of many building plans already announced will provide continuous employment for building trade operatives for a considerable time.
The Deputy will appreciate that private enterprise must take the initiative in the formulation and working of any scheme designed to guarantee continuity of employment to building workers. In so far as the Control of Building Order can be operated to achieve the end which he has in view, licences for less essential projects stipulate, as far as practicable, that the work is done during periods of the year when activity in the building of houses and other essential works is less intense.
The scheme to which the Deputy refers as having been put before the Labour Court had reference only to a "guaranteed week", and the court made no recommendation on that matter, but referred it back for discussion between the parties.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that local authorities, particularly Dublin Corporation, are of the opinion that progress in relieving the housing shortage and in the completion of local authority building projects is deterred by reason of the skilled labour shortage? Is he further aware that although the rates for skilled building operatives are higher here than in England, Irish operatives working in England are deterred from returning, due to what they term the insecurity of employment in the Irish building industry? I can give the Parliamentary Secretary specific instances of that.
Anybody who knows the housing shortage at the present time knows that there is no danger from the point of view of insecurity of employment and that work is available for years ahead on house construction.