asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that a considerable number of servants, including some who had established service under the Local Government Superannuation Act, 1948, have been laid off by the Dublin County Council in recent weeks, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin County Council Employees.
I am not so aware. If, however, any servant who has ceased to hold his employment is aggrieved by the failure or refusal of the local authority to grant him an appropriate superannuation benefit, whether it be pension, gratuity or return of contributions, he has a right of appeal to me within the statutory period.
Surely the Minister is aware that is not the point of the question?
All I can do is put my own interpretation on the query, and that is the interpretation I have put on it.
Will the Minister say if the Department of Local Government have given a direction or an advice to local authorities, including the Dublin County Council, as a result of which numerous employees, including pensionable servants, have been dismissed?
No such advice was tendered by my Department.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state in respect of the Dublin County Council the number of servants employed on 31st March, 1955, and in the weeks ended 27th January, 1956, 25th February, 1956, 31st March, 1956, and 28th April, 1956, respectively.
Particulars of the total number of servants employed by Dublin County Council at the dates in question are not available in my Department. Returns furnished by the local authority indicate that the numbers of men employed on roads and on schemes under the Local Authorities (Works) Act, 1949, at the end of each of the months March, 1955, and January, February, March and April, 1956, were 700, 613, 588, 616 and 590 respectively.