asked the Minister for Lands the number of redundancies in forests in County Donegal (a) for each forest and (b) for the county, between 1st January, 1972 and 31st May, 1972; if any additional redundancy notices were issued since 1st June, 1972; if he will make a statement in connection with the efforts being made by his Department to minimise redundancy; and if any of the persons rendered redundant since the beginning of the year can be offered re-employ ment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal Forestry Redudancies.
43.
The reply to the first part of the Deputy's question is in the form af a tabular statement which, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report.
With regard to the second part of the Deputy's question, every effort has been and is being made to minimise redundancy in Donegal, but despite these efforts a total of 12 men have had to be laid off in the county since 1st January, 1972. There is no immediate prospect of re-employing these men but the matter will be kept under review.
Following is the statement:
Redundancies
|
Between January 1st, 1972 and 31st May, 1972 |
Redundancy notices issued since 1st June, 1972 |
|
|
Ardara |
— |
— |
|
Ards |
— |
— |
|
Ballybofey |
— |
— |
|
Ballyshannon |
— |
— |
|
Barnesmore |
— |
— |
|
Buncrana |
4 |
1 |
|
Gweebarra |
— |
— |
|
Gweedore |
— |
— |
|
Kilcar |
2 |
— |
|
Killygordon |
— |
— |
|
Kilmacrennan |
— |
— |
|
Lettercran |
2 |
— |
|
Letterkenny |
— |
— |
|
Lough Eske |
— |
— |
|
Meeniroy |
— |
— |
|
Mulroy |
— |
— |
|
Pettigo |
4 |
— |
|
Raphoe |
— |
— |
|
Reelan |
— |
— |
|
Stranorlar |
— |
— |
Would the Minister not agree that it is rather unfortunate that forestry workers should be declared redundant at present? I am sure one of his ex-colleagues would also agree that it is doubly unfortunate that it should be in Donegal that the dismissals seem to be taking place at present?
I very much regret that there should be redundancy anywhere.
Would the Minister make some effort to improve the position in view of the fact that it cannot be said that there is no work for these men?
This is not so. I wish it were not so. The work is not there for them.
I think if the Minister goes into the matter he will find that the money is not there.
I have gone most carefully into the matter.
The Minister is Minister for Lands and I am sure knows a good deal more about it than I do but the people who work in the forests say that the cause is a shortage of money.
This is not so and I want to make it quite clear to the House that it is not a question of money. I very much regret the redundancies and I can only hope that the position will rapidly improve.
Will the Minister not agree——
This is an argument.
This is Donegal and I know that the Chair is very interested. Would the Minister not agree that it seems rather ridiculous for the Forestry Section to say that there is no work for 12 men in all the forests of Donegal, no way in which they could be employed doing useful work?
There is no way in which these particular 12 men could be offered re-employment.
This is disputed by the men themselves.