asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if he is aware that accommodation in which former employees of Avoca Mines Ltd. live has been handed over by the receiver to a firm of auctioneers for disposal and that redundancy payments have been withheld from tenants in an attempt to force them to relinquish possession of their accommodation; and if, in view of the fact that the tenants have already lost their jobs and must now live on social welfare payments, he will ensure that they will not be deprived of their accommodation and that they will be given first option to purchase the accommodation if it is put on market.
Written Answers. - Mine Employees Accommodation.
381.
I am aware that the receiver has commissioned a firm of auctioneers to undertake the sale of the assets of Avoca Mines Ltd. including a number of dwelling-houses and flats occupied by employees of the company. My information is that, with the exception of one worker who has requested that his redundancy cheque be retained by the receiver for the present, all redundancy payments due to former employees who are still occupying company houses and flats have been paid.
Payments of extra-statutory redundancy moneys were made to some occupants of company dwellings somewhat later than to the general body of redundant workers, as it was necessary to have discussions on the question of vacation, purchase or signature of caretakers agreements with the occupants. I am satisfied that these discussions were carried out with full consideration for the circumstances of the occupants by the receiver, whose duty it is to realise the assets of the mine property.
I can assure the Deputy that there is no intention of arbitrarily depriving exemployees of the mine of their accommodation and, in fact, the opportunity is being afforded to them to purchase the accommodation at a fair and reasonable price.