asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state what are the instructions at present in force to officers in charge of unemployment exchanges as to the preferences they shall exercise in nominating persons for work from among those registered as unemployed; and if he will state the date from which the present instructions have been in force.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Preferences in Employment Nominations.
For work financed wholly or partly from Central Funds preference for employment accorded to demobilised members of the National Army was withdrawn on the 16th March, 1932, and there was substituted for it preference according to the need of the person seeking employment. This involved the selection of married men with dependants and widowed women with dependants in preference to others. In submitting persons on the unemployed register for such work the local officers of my Department have been instructed to select applicants on this basis since it was laid down in March, 1932. In the development of this system of preference additional rules suggested by actual experience and designed to secure its equitable application were from time to time laid down, and since the 31st March, 1933, the instructions in force are as follows:—The general rule is that as far as practicable all persons to be employed on work financed wholly or partly from Central Funds must be recruited through local offices of my Department and the general principle underlying the selection of labour for such work is that when there is not sufficient employment for all the unemployed, such work as is available should be distributed to those who, being physically fit and qualified to perform the work, are relatively in the greatest need of it. For the purpose of applying this rule the classes of persons who have some means, such as a pension, farm, shop, agency or business, or unemployment benefit, must not be selected for such employment by local officers of my Department so long as there are other persons less fortunately circumstanced available for the work, and subject to this all applicants are divided into two classes: (1) married men with or without dependants and (2) single men with or without dependants, from amongst whom respectively selection for employment is made on the basis of their ascertained need for employment, having regard to such factors as the means and burdens of the applicants and the length of time they have been out of employment. Of the total vacancies for work of this kind notified to local offices 75 per cent. are allotted to the married class and 25 per cent. to the single class. For some types of work requiring special skill in the worker, and for certain classes of employers such as contractors, freedom of choice for the purpose of ensuring the efficient performance of the work is given. For certain classes of work, such as work on the maintenance of main roads, the cost of which is provided partly by local rates and partly by main road upkeep grants or on improvement works financed by Road Fund grants local authorities are free to employ their usual workers and the rules do not apply except in regard to any additional workers required.
In regard to private employers, the employer is free to select any person he wishes and is not obliged to use the local offices of my Department, but where he does avail himself of the services of those local offices, his requirements are regarded as the paramount consideration in the selection of workers.
In view of the fact that the amended regulations, in some cases at all events, have led to misunderstanding and to local disputes and in view of the fact that the managers of the local labour exchanges, as well as county officials, have received detailed copies of the amended regulations, will the Minister consider the advisability of laying a copy of the new regulations on the Table of the House for the information of Deputies, who have been receiving a good deal of correspondence in connection with local disputes arising out of the interpretation of the rules?
That is a separate question.
Does the financing of schemes out of public funds refer to minor relief works?
That is a separate question.
The Minister stated that the point raised by Deputy Davin was a separate question. It is really the point raised in the original question. I urge on the Minister to have the more detailed instruction given to the officers in charge of local employment exchanges placed in the Library if possible. That would be helpful in getting a clear idea as to what exactly the situation is.
Is there any reason in the public interest why Deputies should be deprived of a copy of regulations which are handed to managers of local exchanges and to county council officials?
There is no question of depriving Deputies of the regulations.
Will the Minister consider the advisability of circulating detailed copies of the regulations issued to the officials I have named?