asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been directed to reports of the impending dismissal of skilled and unskilled civilian employees of his Department in the Dublin area; and whether, in view of the continued serious unemployment position in Dublin, particularly among building workers, he will, if necessary, issue instructions for the retention in employment of these employees.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dismissal of Civilian Employees from Defence Forces.
I am aware that a number of civilian employees engaged with the Corps of Engineers in the Dublin area have recently been dismissed on the grounds of redundancy and that the dismissal of some further employees in that area is contemplated for the same reason.
The position is that the programme of works planned for execution by the Corps of Engineers in the current financial year and the amount of money provided in the Vote for Defence in respect of those works does not provide for employment on the same scale as last year. Accordingly, I regret that I am not in a position to accede to the Deputy's request to retain the men in question in employment.