asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether his attention had been drawn to an advertisement published in the Press on 28th March, over the signature of the acting-secretary of the Meath County Board of Health, inviting applications from qualified engineers to fill four posts as clerks of works in connection with a scheme for the crection of labourers' cottages; whether he has sanctioned the proposal of the board of health to restrict the appointments in question to qualified engineers; and, if not, whether he will intimate to the board that it is the desire of the Department that competent tradesmen would be afforded an opportunity to apply for these positions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Qualifications for Public Appointments.
I have seen the advertisement referred to, the terms of which were not submitted to my Department for approval.
The Meath Board of Health and Public Assistance propose to appoint four clerks of works mainly for the inspection and mapping of sites for the purpose of a scheme under the Labourers Acts. This work should, in accordance with the provisions of the Labourers (Ireland) Order, 1912, be carried out by an architect or engineer and I do not propose to interfere with the action of the board in the matter.
Can the Minister say if it is proposed to utilise these persons to act as clerks of works in connection with the erection of labourers' cottages?
Not as far as I know.
If any proposals are made to utilise them for that purpose will the Minister see that qualified tradesmen are not excluded?
I will wait and see.
Do I take it that his action in not interfering at this stage is not to be taken as agreeing to the exclusion of tradesmen when filling these posts?
I would certainly consider it if any proposition was put up to me for the employment of qualified tradesmen as well as engineers.
The Minister is aware that recently in a somewhat similar case he intervened, in order to ensure that applications from qualified tradesmen to act as clerks of works were dealt with fairly by the councils, and that they were not definitely excluded.
That is so.