asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the decision to dispense with the services of a number of men employed by the Office of Public Works at Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin; and if, in view of the fact that the work there is of a quasi-permanent nature and of the serious consequences of this decision on those employed, he will arrange to expedite the starting of further work proposed for Dún Laoghaire and so avoid dispensing with the services of those employed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Board of Works Employment in Dún Laoghaire.
5.
It has been found possible to keep all the men employed for the present. Improvement works at Dún Laoghaire Harbour have provided employment for additional workmen since 1957. The employment must be limited by the duration of the works and cannot be regarded as permanent in any way.
The improvements planned for the mail boat pier and its approaches have been largely completed; outstanding works cannot be put in hands until a decision is taken on a further proposal to provide a car ferry terminal at the harbour. This is dependent on British Railways providing the ferry service. The Commissioners of Public Works have not yet been advised of a decision by British Railways. The men will be employed for the maximum period possible, but unless there is a very early decision on the ferry proposal, some redundancy will be unavoidable.
I hope the Taoiseach is not feeling frustrated by the lack of cut and thrust in debate.
Is the Minister in a position to say whether the men will be kept on after Christmas or only until Christmas?
They will certainly be kept on for a couple of weeks after Christmas, at the worst.
Is there any way in which the Minister could expedite, as a result of his representations, a decision from British Railways?
The Board of Works and also the Tourist Board, as a matter of fact, who are very interested in this proposition, have been pressing British Railways to come to a decision.
Does the Minister not agree that in the case of the Office of Public Works it is not a very nice thing to arrange to knock off workers a few weeks before Christmas, as they have done in a number of places all over the country?
To organise a strike would be a good way of dealing with it.
The question relates to Dún Laoghaire.