asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that grave anxiety has been caused to employees of Córas Iompair Éireann due to the circulation of reports that Córas Iompair Éireann have under consideration the question of terminating the services of a large number of its employees; whether any intimation of its intention to pay off staff has been conveyed to him by Córas Iompair Éireann and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Córas Iompair Éireann Employees.
Shortly after taking up office, I was informed by Córas Iompair Éireann that expenditure was exceeding revenue to an alarming extent and that a very large deficit could only be met by further subventions from public funds. The board was asked to submit a comprehensive report on various matters of policy, including any proposals in contemplation by them to reduce working costs. This report, which was received on 23rd October, is at present under examination. On the matter of staffs, the report states that the board, for a long time, has been urging the heads of its various departments to examine and report on any redundancy existing in their staffs, that the reports so far furnished indicate that there is very little redundancy, but that the board is not satisfied that this is a true picture of the position and is having further investigations made.
This is the only information I have at present as to the board's intentions and it would not appear to justify any such rumours as the Deputy mentions. If Córas Iompair Éireann should dispense with the services of redundant employees for whom they have no suitable alternative employment the compensation provisions of Section 38 of the Transport Act, 1950, would apply.
I asked the Minister whether he would consider suggesting to Córas Iompair Éireann that if any redundancy should arise it should be allowed to dissipate itself by wastage through death or retirement rather than that people who have given long service to the railway industry should have that service precipitously terminated.
The board inform me that a virtual embargo has been placed by it upon the intake of new staff.
It has happened repeatedly at conferences between Córas Iompair Éireann and trade unions that senior officers of the company have expressed themselves very strongly on what they regard as existing redundancy in the company and have made it plain that they regard it as such that they would call for a considerable lay off. That has created nervousness amongst the employees, particularly as there has been a lay off in the road freightage section in the past few weeks. The Minister should allay that nervousness.
I have no knowledge of the matter to which the Deputy refers. The position of the company in the matter is as I have indicated it to be in the reply.
There is a story current among railway workers that it has come down from higher levels that Córas Iompair Éireann have indicated that they are carrying a large redundant staff. Deputy Larkin mentions 25 per cent. I have heard that the figure is 2,500 employees. Are we to understand from the Minister now that there is no foundation for any fear on the part of the railway workers that any of them will be paid off?
I could not say that. What the board of Córas Iompair Éireann have said is that since they were appointed they have been pressing for the elimination of redundancy — that their departmental heads say that there is little redundancy but that they are not satisfied that that is the picture. That is the sum total of my knowledge of the board's intentions in the matter at present. Certainly, it would not support the suggestion that any large-scale dismissal of staff is in contemplation.
May we take it as a fair interpretation of the Minister's statement that so far as the Minister knows from Córas Iompair Éireann, the pay-off of a large number or of any staff of Córas Iompair Éireann is not a live issue at the moment?
No. The board say they are not satisfied that there is not some redundancy in various sections of the board's organisation and that they are having further investigations made, but the indications are that no decision has yet been made to dispense with any number of men on the grounds of redundancy.