asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state the number of men employed (1) by Laoighis County Council and (2) by Offaly County Council on all works carried out under the supervision of the respective county engineers during the weeks ended March 25th, 1950, April 1st, 1950, and April 8th, 1950; and if he will further state the reason for the suspension or dismissal of a number of men in some areas of both counties at the end of the last financial year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Laoighis and Offaly Dismissals.
The reply to the first part of the Deputy's question is in the form of a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Reports.
As regards the second part of the question, the employment and dismissal of men are matters for the local authority to decide on and depend on the timing and location of the local authority's programme of works.
The following is the statement:—
STATEMENT AS TO NUMBER EMPLOYED (1)
|
Week Ended |
Laoighis County Council |
Offaly County Council |
|
25th March, 1950 |
910 |
370 |
|
1st April, 1950 |
95(2) |
397 |
|
8th April, 1950 |
683 |
409 |
Notes: (1) The above figures are supplied by the County Engineers.
(2) The majority of men were on holidays for the last week of the financial year.
Is it a fact that the Minister's Department was advised some weeks ago that in the case of Portarlington, which covers Laoighis and Offaly, 15 men in Laoighis and 12 men in the Offaly area, and a ganger who previous to that had ten years' continuous service, were paid off and have not yet been reinstated? I should like to know what the Department is doing, in view of the fact that several useful schemes have been submitted under the Local Authorities (Works) Act.
If the Deputy says that it is alleged that the Department instructed that these men be dismissed, let me say that that allegation is incorrect.
No. Surely, however, the Department has some supervisory authority over the activities of the county manager?
It is for the county councillors to take the matter up with the county manager.