Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 2 Nov 1994

Vol. 446 No. 6

Written Answers. - Dún Laoghaire Harbour Employment.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

58 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Marine the arrangements, if any, he has made for the employment of local labour in the development of new terminal facilities at Dún Laoghaire Harbour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2602/94]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Andrews)

The main works contract for the ferry terminal development project in Dún Laoghaire was placed at the end of July 1994. The main contractor for the project has informed me that some 127 people are at present directly employed on site. It is expected that direct employment will rise to 350 people after Christmas 1994.

A similar number are employed off site by suppliers and sub-contractors fabricating items for scheduled delivery to the site. Of the current workforce both on and off the site it is estimated that about 50 per cent live within a 30 mile radius of the works.

Current work on site is of a specialist nature including piling, marine craft operations and plant operations. Many of the operatives involved are long term skilled employees who are generally deployed from site to site as required, usually staying in local accommodation. It is usually in a contractor's financial interest to employ casual labour from the locality.