asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is prepared to relax the prohibition on the taking up of employment in Great Britain by turf and agricultural workers who are at present unemployed and who wish to go to positions in Great Britain.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Turf and Agricultural Workers.
No special restriction is placed on emigration of agricultural and turf workers as a class. They are eligible to receive emigration facilities, subject to freedom from the general restrictions which, in the main, prohibit the emigration of male workers who are in employment or for whom suitable employment is available here or will be available within a reasonable period. The Deputy is, no doubt, aware that seasonal turf production is about to commence and will absorb considerable numbers of experienced turf workers. I do not propose to recommend, in respect of agricultural or turf workers, any special relaxation from the general restrictions in force for the control of emigration.
Would the Minister state what is the estimated number that Bord na Móna will need for turf production in the coming season or has the Minister any statistics in that regard?
I think the Deputy would have to address that question to another Minister. I could not give the figure offhand.
Does not that come under the Minister's Department?
No.
May I inform the Minister that I have received communications from his Department to the effect that Bord na Móna needs all the available workers at the present time?
That is right.
A short time ago we learned in the House that about 29,400 emigrated to England last year, for work, and I can assure the Minister that the same number will be ready to go this year. Would the Minister state if he has work available for all these in turf and agricultural schemes? It is obviously unfair, if there is no employment for them, to keep them at home.
These restrictions, of course, do not refer to migratory labourers.
When I tabled this question I did not specify migratory labourers. I covered the whole field of workers. There are certain workers, who are not migratory labourers, but who need to migrate. At least, they need work so that they will not be wasting their time, drawing the dole. They need work here or in England or any place they can get it and the case I put to the Minister is that it is obviously unfair to keep them at home and that he should at least relax the ban on all those who are not absolutely needed.
That is the position, of course.
Will the Minister say that he will ease conditions for some of these?
The position is that if there is no work available, or if there is no work in sight for them, they will be allowed to go.