asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that his Department have ceased ordering wooden chairs, and that recent orders for large amounts have been for tubular chairs, which are more expensive than the wooden type, have a very low employment content in the State, and are made of imported material; and if he will take steps to ensure that, in future, preference is given to wooden chairs in order to alleviate the unemployment that has been caused by the action of his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Use of Wooden Chairs in Department of Defence.
My Department has not discontinued the purchase of wooden chairs. When chairs are required it is the policy to provide wooden chairs where practicable and, in fact, 800 wooden chairs were purchased for Army use last year. In recent years tubular steel stacking chairs have been purchased for men's dining halls, in replacement of forms which were becoming unserviceable. They were considered to be the only chairs which would be suitable for the particular purpose having regard to all the factors involved. They are cheaper than wooden chairs of a similar type. Chairs had not previously been supplied to men's dining halls; I cannot see, therefore, how the action of my Department in purchasing steel chairs could, as alleged by the Deputy, have given rise to unemployment.