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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 8 Nov 1927

Vol. 21 No. 10

ORAL ANSWERS. - GREAT SOUTHERN RAILWAYS WORKS.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that a further batch of about sixty employees have received notice terminating their services at the Great Southern Railways Works, Inchicore; that the railway company continue to import finished parts of rolling stock requirements, notwithstanding the fact that such can be produced economically at these works, where an efficient staff of skilled men presently and for a considerable time past, are only working four days per week, and up-to-date machinery is available, and if he can ascertain from the railway company the reasons for the periodical reduction of the staff of shopmen, and whether he will take steps to prevent the closing down of the works, as the policy of the railway company would seem to indicate.

I am informed by the Great Southern Company that it has been found necessary to dispense with the services of some of their shopmen.

The Company state that the only finished parts they are importing are in connection with waggons which will be built at Inchicore, and the reason for their action is that these parts can be imported cheaper than they can be manufactured here.

I am informed that the Company has no intention of closing down Inchicore Works.

Mr. DOYLE

Can the Minister state what is the necessity for dispensing with shopmen in particular, having regard to the fact that there is a considerable amount of railway rolling stock badly in need of repair? Further, as to the imported material is he aware that it is not confined to finished waggon parts alone, that all kinds of rolling stock requirements are being imported, and further, does he consider that it would not be more advisable if they were made here, even if there is a case from the economy point of view because the cost of the imported article is cheaper than the home-made article, because it would in the first place take a huge number of men off the unemployed list and at the same time give the Company the advantage that they have already——

The Deputy is making a speech.

Mr. DOYLE

—the knowledge that the work done here gives general satisfaction, and would he set up a Committee to inquire into the matter?

I am not in charge of the Great Southern Railway system, and I cannot say whether shopmen are being dispensed with more than employees of other grades and types, and I am not aware that anything except finished parts are being imported. That is the information I got from the railway company. When questions of this type are put down to me I can do no more than pass them on. I have no organisation to get information on these matters.

Is it not a fact that there are too many Yorkshiremen in charge of the engineering shops on the railway?

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