andMr. O'Learyasked the Minister for Lands if he will state the number of men who have been dismissed or who have received notice of dismissal, during the past month, in each of the forests in County Wexford.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Wexford Forestry Workers.
During the past six weeks fluctuations both upwards and downwards have taken place in the numbers employed in the forests in County Wexford and elsewhere. This follows on completion of the 1952/53 planting season and other seasonal changes in forestry operations.
The precise information requested by the Deputies is not yet available but if they will repeat the question in a week's time I hope to be in a position to answer.
andMr. O'Learyasked the Minister for Lands if he will state the regulations governing the payment of workers at his Department's forests, in County Wexford, for wet periods during the day.
The regulations governing the employment of forestry workers during wet weather are that provided the workers attend for work at the appointed time payment of wages is made in wet weather for so long as the forester requires them to remain at his disposal. Alternative work under shelter is provided where possible. If alternative work is not available workers are not retained nor paid wages for more than a half-day unless it is reasonably certain that normal work will be possible later in the day.
Could the Minister find out if these regulations are applied at the forest at Bree, County Wexford?
If the Deputy has any complaint to make about a specific case I should like him to do so. I am afraid that the forestry staff are too busy to go in for general inquiries. If parliamentary questions are put down suggesting that the regulations are not being adhered to, surely we are entitled to have some confirmation from the Deputies who raise such questions.
This question was put down as a result of representations made by workers in the Bree forest. I now discover from the Minister's reply that these regulations are not being enforced in this particularforest. I merely asked the Minister to ensure that they are.
I should like to know in what respect they are not being carried out.
All we are asking for these forestry workers is that they will get the same conditions as county council workers—instead of being sent home and getting no pay or anything.
That is not the position. Where it is possible to keep them on, that is done. At least they get a halfday's pay. I am quite confident that the foresters generally, having regard to all the circumstances, do not send men home if they can possibly provide employment for them.
We are informed to the contrary. The Minister need not get annoyed.
We have met these forestry workers and, as a result of the case which they made to us, we put these questions down. The men contend that they should get the same conditions as govern workers under the Wexford County Council. That is all we are asking for.
The Deputies have not specified what the complaint was. They have only asked me what the regulations are. I represent the foresters. Before any charges are made against them here, I think Deputies should acquaint me of the nature of the complaint.
andMr. O'Learyasked the Minister for Lands if he will state why 20 men at present working in the Bree forest, Enniscorthy, County Wexford, have received notice of dismissal.
The conclusion of seasonal work in the nursery at Bree forest has necessitated a reduction in staff there and nine men have been given notice.
This is the first time since 1947 that there has been unemployment in this particular forest. What is the reason for that? Is itbecause the Minister cut down the Forestry Estimate? Did he want to economise by putting men out of employment?
The Deputy is entirely wrong. I have not cut down the Forestry Estimate. More men were employed on forestry work in this State last year than ever before——
There are less now.
——and the level of employment is being maintained. It may be that, owing to seasonal fluctuations, a few men may have been let off. My information so far is that the level of employment has been maintained and that the figures at the end of March and at the end of April this year are better than at the corresponding periods of last year. There may be individual cases, as I have said, where a few men were let off. That was partly due to seasonal changes. We have had a dry season. Deputies who represent one of the best agricultural constituencies ought to understand that climatic conditions have something to do with employment on the land.
Could the Minister say whether or not in the past five years this is the first time that men have been dismissed from Bree forest?
They have not been dismissed. They have been given notice. They will probably be taken on or some of them will be taken on later. The Deputy forgets that nearly 4,000 men are employed at forestry. They are not employed continuously throughout the year.
I am talking about Bree forest.
And about a few men. You and your colleague, Deputy O'Leary, are trying to give the impression that forestry employment is being cut down. It is not being cut down.
I did not.
Everybody is getting very cross to-day.