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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 27 Jan 1972

Vol. 258 No. 5

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Redundant Forestry Workers.

91.

asked the Minister for Lands if he intends to re-employ forestry workers who became redundant in recent years.

Former employees of the Forest and Wildlife Service would in the normal course get preference for re-employment if additional work became available. It should be emphasised, however, that a substantial increase in direct State forest employment cannot be expected in the near future.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary accept that forestry workers with reasonably long service —in one case I know of up to 14 years service and in another of up to almost ten years service—can look forward to re-employment in view of the recent pronouncement by the Minister for Finance? I am particularly concerned with the south-west Cork area where 13 or 14 workers became redundant in recent times. Surely the least we can do for these people is to re-employ them. Their number is small and the work is there. In view of the State injection of £20 million, I think it was, surely these people who are solely dependent on this type of work can expect to be re-employed. Was it a wrong assumption on their part to assume that they would be re-employed when they read the Government's pronouncement on the additional moneys that were available to provide employment and to ensure that redundancies would not take place? Is it correct for them to assume that they will be re-employed?

It would be a wrong assumption on the part of all who had become unemployed at that time. On the other hand, I agree with the Deputy that long service is a factor that will be taken into account in the re-engagement of those who had been in employment.

We have been requested by these people to try to find them employment. The number is relatively small. It is over a widespread and scattered area. It should not be difficult to fit them into the different groups. I make a special appeal to the Parliamentary Secretary to do so if at all possible.

I will convey the Deputy's concern to the Minister.

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