asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of temporary postmen who will be employed for the Christmas season; and the method of selection.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Temporary Postmen.
31.
It is expected that about 3,250 temporary postmen will be employed for the Christmas season. They will be selected from persons registered for such work at employment exchanges and unemployed men will be given preference provided they are suitable.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary give an assurance that selection will be made from those who are unemployed for a long time and not just from among those who recently registered at the employment exchange?
We also give first preference to those who have been unemployed for a period or for a long time, as the Deputy puts it, but then the number of people does not measure up to anything like the number actually required.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there are a number of people registered at the employment exchange, or unemployment exchange, whichever you prefer to call it, who have been registered there for over four years and have never been called for any kind of employment?
I think it is only right for me to contradict what the Deputy has said in this regard by referring to last year, 1967. Of the 3,000 people who were nominated in 1967, only 845 were in receipt of unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance. Of those 800 odd 105 failed to attend for interview and 483 of those people were provisionally selected on interview as suitable for work. There are further checkings which have to be taken into account in relation to the sorting and delivery of postal mail and this narrows down the number further still.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the fact that some people registered at unemployment exchanges never receive an offer of employment? I have recently written to the Minister for Labour and the manager of the employment exchange asking why no offer of employment was made to those people in four years. What the Parliamentary Secretary is saying is wrong in the light of the information I have given.
I would say the Deputy might have a very interesting reply from the Minister for Labour.
Is there any suggestion that people who register as unemployed postmen get preference when this is being drawn up?
Not that I know of.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary check it?
I can check on it.
(Interruptions).
I am not looking for votes.