asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state why Mr. Michael Seaver, Main Street, Moate, County Westmeath, was informed on 29th November, 1950, by the Secretary, Westmeath County Council, that his position as temporary home assistance officer will terminate on 31st December, 1950, and if he will inquire as to why Mr. Seaver was not reappointed in view of his record of good service for some years past when acting in a temporary capacity; further, if he will state whether Mr. Seaver was given special marks at his interview for his Old I.R.A. service, and whether he was the only applicant with such service from 1916, and if he will inquire into the alleged unfair treatment of Mr. Seaver and arrange for the continuance of his service in his capacity as home assistance officer for the county council.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Home Assistance Officer Post.
The position is that Mr. Seaver has been employed by the Westmeath County Council as a temporary assistance officer since the 2nd June, 1947, and the local authority was authorised in January, 1950, to make a permanent appointment to the post. The making of these appointments is a reserved function under the County Management Act, 1940. It has been ascertained that the county manager invited applications for the post; that a selection board interviewed the candidates on 28th April, 1950, and that Mr. Seaver was not the successful candidate.
Special marks for Old I.R.A. service are not awarded in connection with these posts. I do not know whether any of the other candidates had such service.
The selection of a person to fill the post of assistance officer is a matter entirely for the local authority and appointments do not require my sanction.
In view of the fact that it was the policy of the last Government and is the policy of the present Government, so far as we have been told, that special consideration is to be given in claims for employment, to Old I.R.A. men and more especially to men with 1916 service, and further in view of the fact that the Westmeath County Council and the Athlone Urban District Council have vigorously protested against the county manager's action in not giving due consideration to Mr. Seaver's claims for this position, will the Minister now give an undertaking that such consideration will be given to Mr. Seaver's claims for this post?
Whatever views I might have as to reckoning service in the I.R.A. as a qualification for a post of this kind, are immaterial having regard to the fact that I have no power whatever to influence this appointment. Such an appointment is a reserved function under the County Management Act of 1940. The manager can appoint whomsoever he likes and he does not require my sanction. The factors to which the Deputy adverted are factors which should be taken into account by the county manager but I have no power to take them into consideration and no power to interfere with the appointment.
Did the Minister take that into consideration when he was abolishing county managers under the County Management (Amendment) Act last month?
The regulations in this case are the regulations made by the Deputy's Government.