asked the Minister for Lands what decision has been reached in regard to the application to have carters, who are at present employed by the Forestry Division of his Department on a contract basis, regarded as ordinary employees insurable under the Social Welfare Acts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Forestry Carters.
The Forestry Division's arrangements for the discharge of local haulage needs are at present under review but no change in their arrangements has yet been decided upon.
Is the Minister aware that under the change brought about by the Social Welfare Act last year carters employed by local authorities were changed by law from the contract basis to the system under which they have their cards stamped in the same way as ordinary employees, and can the Department give any good reason why carters employed in the Forestry Division are not getting the benefit of the same arrangement?
Those who take contract work from the Forestry Department include carters, tractor men, plough men and all that. There is very little contract work given by the Forestry Department except in the case of plough men. There is not so much work given to carters. The biggest bill is for ploughing—for tillage and nursery work and so forth. There are certain provisions in the 1952 Social Welfare Act which may apply to all these and this is under microscopic examination at the present time to see what can be done.