asked the Minister for Lands if compensation will be paid to the displaced workers who were employed on the Doyle estate, Ballysop, County Wexford prior to this estate being taken over by the Land Commission.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Displaced Estate Workers.
18.
I understand that a decision has not yet been taken as to payment of gratuities under section 29, Land Act 1950, to the persons displaced from employment on the Doyle estate. However, I am asking the Land Commission to expedite their consideration of the matter.
Will the Minister agree that it was part of the terms of this transfer from the Land Commission to the Forestry Division that these displaced workers should receive compensation, that this took place a couple of years ago and that they are still awaiting compensation? Does he not regard it as a matter of urgency?
I have no information to confirm what the Deputy has said, that this was part of the deal in taking over this estate.
Is it not the usual procedure that when an estate is taken over, the workers displaced are given compensation? Why should there be this delay?
No, it depends on the circumstances in each particular case, on the length of employment of any displaced employee and whether the employees had alternative employment. I understand that some of these men had alternative employment, some of them with the Forestry Division of my Department.
What about employees who have not got alternative employment? Why can you not deal with those?
If they qualify, I assume they will be dealt with. This is a matter which is solely at the discretion of the Land Commission, and as far as my information goes, there were some doubts about whether some of these people were eligible for this form of compensation. I assume that because they had alternative employment, they did not look for it or did not apply for it.
Will the Minister look into it as a matter of urgency?
Yes; I have told the Deputy in the reply that I have asked the Land Commission to look into the matter and to expedite it.