asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason why, in the case of a recent appointment of a postman in Milestone, Thurles, County Tipperary, a temporary postman who had given three months satisfactory service, who lives in a labourer's cottage, and who has nine children under age and two others in temporary employment, was rejected as not being the most suitable applicant for the permanent post; and if he will state exactly the criteria which are used to ascertain who is the most suitable candidate for such a post.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Tipperary Postman.
12.
The vacancy for an auxiliary postman at Milestone, Thurles, was filled in the usual way from a list of employment exchange nominees and the man selected was the most suitable qualified person. It would be contrary to practice to furnish any information regarding the claims or qualifications of applicants as this would entail disclosing information obtained in confidence about these persons.
The requirements for appointment as auxiliary postman are that the applicant must, in general, be between 18 and 65 years of age, be in good health, live within a three mile radius of the office of employment, be at least 5' 2" in height, possess a good character and a reasonable standard of education and, in the case of a Gaeltacht office, have a good knowledge of Irish. Other factors taken into account in assessing the suitability of applicants are their domestic circumstances, previous temporary Post Office service and military service rendered to the State.
Does the Minister not agree that it is particularly unfair to displace a man of this type who had been engaged, in the first instance, by the local postmaster who deemed him to be suitable and competent to carry out the responsibilities of the post and who, in fact, carried out these duties in a most conscientious manner for two months? Is the Minister aware of the anxiety and uneasiness which prevails in this area as a result of the Department not appointing this man to the permanent post when it became vacant? Would he not, even at this late hour, take the necessary steps to see that justice is done by providing this man with some kind of employment in the area?
The normal machinery for filling these vacancies was followed in detail in this case. As I said, nominations were sought in the usual way from the employment exchange and the most suitable man selected. There can be no question of displacing anybody. It could not be maintained by anybody that because a person is employed temporarily in a vacancy, he should be automatically appointed when the vacancy comes up for permanent filling.
The Minister appreciates that the man has been in fact displaced who did his work conscientiously for two months. Will he tell the House the reasons for displacing the man?
The Deputy seems to be looking at it in the wrong way. This happens time and time again all over the place in different spheres. A vacancy arises and before the full machinery for an appointment can be operated, it is necessary that the job be carried on. Somebody is put in on a temporary basis and then the post is filled in the normal way through the appropriate machinery. That is what happened here. The person employed in the temporary capacity did not succeed when the full machinery of nomination and interview and so on was operated.
Will the Minister say whether, when the vacancy arose, the local postmaster, in fact, recommended this man for the permanent post?
I do not know anything about that and I do not think it even arises. As I outlined in my answer, the procedure is that the employment exchange is asked to nominate persons and all persons nominated and considered suitable are interviewed and, on the basis of the various qualifications I have set out, the most suitable person is selected.
Would the Minister give an assurance there was no hanky-panky involved?
I can certainly give that assurance.