asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the fact that coal-mining workers at Castlecomer, County Kilkenny, have been, through no fault of their own, working short time every second week for some considerable time past, he will exercise his powers under the Holidays (Employees) Acts to reduce the number of hours necessary for entitlement for Easter Monday and annual leave for these workers in a manner analogous to the reductions which are made where workers have been working reduced hours and have been in receipt of wet time insurance payments.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Kilkenny Coal-mine Workers.
31.
In view of the special conditions and nature of their work, the qualifying period for entitlement to annual leave under the Holidays (Employees) Act, 1961, was reduced from 1,600 hours to 1,500 hours in respect of coal miners. I regret very much that miners at Castlecomer have been working short time but I do not consider it would be appropriate to make regulations on the lines suggested. As the Deputy is aware, short time working can arise in industries other than coal mining.