asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that road workers in County Dublin are not yet receiving the benefits of the Local Government (Superannuation) Act, 1947; and, if so, whether it is intended to have the benefits of this Act extended to these workers at an early date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Workers' Superannuation.
Mr. Murphy
The adoption of Part III of the Act which relates to the superannuation of established servants is a matter for the local authority. I understand that the Commissioner for Dublin County Council has the matter under consideration.
Is the Minister aware that a number of those road men will be laid off work in the near future? I would like him to have the investigation of this matter expedited.
Mr. Murphy
I think the Deputy will understand that this Act is one which gives the county council discretion to adopt it or not and, because of that fact, I have no power to order the local authority to adopt the Act. I suggest that the cases the Deputy has in mind should be brought to the notice of the Commissioner for Dublin County and I am sure he will be able to deal with that matter in a sympathetic way.
In view of the fact that we have not in Dublin County any democratically elected local body, but rather a county commissioner in whom all local power is concentrated, will the Minister not direct the county commissioner to take steps at the earliest possible date to bring the provisions of this Act into operation in relation to the road workers of County Dublin? Further, is the Minister yet in a position to indicate to the House whether or not the 40 men who were dismissed by Dublin County Council in 1946, after giving 50 years' service to the county council, will be covered by this Act by means of amendment at an early date?
Mr. Murphy
May I take the latter part of the Deputy's supplementary question first and suggest to him that it would be hardly fair to expect me to give an immediate answer to a question of that kind? The answer would depend on very many circumstances, particulars of which I have not got at the moment. The Deputy is, I know, aware that it is the present Local Government policy to restore the Dublin County Council as soon as possible and, for certain, this year. In the meantime, the views expressed in the Deputy's question will be conveyed to the commissioner and if there are any questions of urgency his special attention will be directed to them and also to the other matters that have been mentioned.