asked the Minister for Finance what preference, if any, is given to ex-Army men in recruitment for State employment.
17.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - State Employment Preference for ex-Army Men.
16.
asked the Minister for Finance if any particular preference is given to ex-Army men who have served in the Congo in recruitment for State employment.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 17 together.
In certain competitions for recruitment to State employment, persons who have rendered at least two years' permanent and full-time military service to the State may deduct from their actual age any period of such service (excluding any period during which they were not in receipt of pay) up to a maximum of six years, provided that their service was satisfactory. They are also awarded extra marks on a basis proportionate to the length of such service. The competitions referred to are those for appointments as:
(a) Assistant Preventive Officer,
(b) Prison Officer,
(c) Male attendant in the Central Mental Hospital,
(d) Postman.
The concessions are available to an individual for a period of two years after he has completed his military service. They are not available to persons who are already established civil servants or to persons who were awarded permanent commissions or who were awarded cadetships other than those found unsuitable for permanent commissions for reasons not affecting their suitability for civilian employment.
Ex-Army men who have served in the Congo receive the same concessions as other ex-Army men.
Is that the only preference given to them?
Yes.
That is in respect of cases in which they have to sit for examination. Surely there is some other preference given for jobs where there is no examination such as in the Board of Works and the Post Office?
It is very hard to give them a preference which is based on a percentage of marks, unless there is an examination.
Is there no special preference given in the Post Office Engineering Department or in the Board of Works for labouring jobs?
I do not think so.
Many of them have been treated pretty shabbily.