Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 18 Nov 1953

Vol. 143 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Arterial Drainage Staff.

asked the Minister for Finance whether, in view of the large amount of work to be done under the Arterial Drainage Act, he will take immediate steps to (i) increase substantially the staff employed on such work, (ii) purchase further machinery and (iii) provide in next year's Estimate a much greater amount of money for this most essential work.

At present works are in progress on three major arterial drainage schemes and survey and design work in the preparation of further schemes is being pressed on. Difficulty is being experienced in maintaining a suitably qualified technical staff adequate to service that programme of work and continuous efforts are being made to recruit all necessary personnel. Sufficient machinery is available for the work in hands and more will be provided if the need arises. The Deputy may take it that adequate provision will be made in the annual Estimates for all the work which it is possible to undertake.

May I ask whether one of the causes why it is impossible to provide more staff is that the remuneration offered is not adequate to induce candidates to come forward for the service?

I cannot say. We have a number who seem to be satisfied with it.

There must be some reason for the difficulty. It is a difficulty which has existed for a long timenow. Does the Parliamentary Secretary know that?

We have held competitions on several occasions and a number have come on to the staff from time to time. Whether the question of remuneration is rendering it difficult to extend the staff or to bring it up to full strength, is a matter of which I am not aware.

Barr
Roinn