asked the Minister for Transport and Power if there is a policy ruling in his Department that a man will not be employed at manual work if over 40 years of age on the date of application for the job; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment of Manual Workers.
54.
No such policy as suggested by the Deputy is followed in my Department.
Is the Minister aware that people seeking casual employment by the board are employed for short periods and then let off? Is he further aware that some of these people have been told that they cannot be re-employed because they are more than 40 years of age and, subsequently, not eligible to avail of the pension schemes operated by the ESB? For that reason, married men with families have been told that they are too old at 40 to do manual work for the ESB.
If that is the case, I agree with the Deputy that it is entirely wrong. However, my information is that that is not the case, but perhaps if the Deputy has any particular details he will let me have them.
I shall let the Minister have some correspondence that I have about this.
I should be glad if the Deputy would, because if this is the case it is a wrong principle.