asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that 32 employees of Mianraí Teoranta, of whom 26 are underground workers, and miners, have been notified that their services will be dispensed with as from 7th July, 1949, and that this will leave only four men employed on underground work; if he will state whether it is the intention of Mianraí Teoranta to proceed with the work of exploration at Avoca mines; if he will explain why the services of these men have been dispensed with; and finally if he will recommend to the directors of the company that a flotation plant should be installed immediately so that alternative employment may be made available to these men.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment with Mianraí Teoranta.
I have already announced the decision of the Government that Mianraí Teoranta should proceed with the scheme for minerals exploration at Avoca, County Wicklow. Underground work cannot be started pending the delivery of essential plant and equipment which is expected to arrive within the next three to four months. In the meantime, Mianraí Teoranta, on the 7th July, 1949, was reluctantly compelled to dispense temporarily with the services of 25 underground and seven surface workers at Avoca who could not at present be usefully employed in the absence of equipment. Seven underground and 31 surface workers were retained in employment.
I understand that directors of the company have explained the position fully to the men who were dismissed and have assured them that everything possible will be done to provide employment for them at the earliest possible moment.
I am advised that, so far as the scheme at Avoca is concerned, it is not practicable to adopt the suggestion contained in the last part of the question.
When the services of those 25 or 26 men were being dispensed with, the men were informed that that action was being taken due to a shortage of essential equipment— as the Minister has stated — and that their services would not be needed for at least 12 to 14 weeks. In view of the essential and skilled work those men are engaged in, I should like the Minister to inform me what is going to happen to those men during the 12 or 14 weeks when they will be unemployed? Further, if those men are not available when the industry has set up its equipment, how is the company going to recruit skilled workers to carry out the work of exploration?
I think it will be admitted that I have done everything possible to retain the maximum number of men at Avoca. Many of them have been retained there when, in fact, there was not — owing to lack of suitable equipment — sufficient work for them. I must be advised by the mining company in these matters. I am advised by them that there is no work there which those men can perform until such time as the necessary equipment arrives on the scene.
Does the Minister realise that those 25 or 26 men are not going to hang around the village or the small town of Avoca for 12 to 14 weeks? Naturally, they will look for work elsewhere. How does the management propose to carry out their exploration scheme if they lose the services of those 25 or 26 skilled workers?
Question No. 34.
Does the Deputy suggest what I should do?