asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that, due mainly to the suspension of orders for poles from the E.S.B., the creosoting plant at Limerick has closed down, causing the unemployment of about 40 men; and if he will consult with the board with a view to having these orders resumed at the earliest possible date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Limerick Creosoting Plant.
This question relates to a matter of day-to-day administration in which I have no function. I am informed by the E.S.B. that, because of the stocks already held, it is unlikely that there will be any importation of poles prior to July or August, 1959.
Is it not a fact that were it not for the policy adopted by the Minister's predecessor, there would be no recession in the industry?
I should not like to say that. The rate of construction of the network of the rural electrification scheme by the board is, of course, a matter for the board to decide. They have, I gather, a substantial stock of poles at present and obviously will not need to renew that until it is exhausted.
Is the Minister aware that there were about 3,000 more people employed in the E.S.B. 12 months ago than there are to-day on rural electrification schemes and that the catastrophe referred to in Question No. 9 never occurred during the previous three years?
The Deputy has chosen a wrong period to make his comparison. This time last year I found that work on rural electrification had almost stopped.
No. In the financial year ending March last more rural electrification schemes were completed than in the financial year ending in March of this year. In fact, the Minister has now brought down rural electrification to a lower level than at any time for the past four years.
The number of areas completed in the last quarter of the last year was the lowest since the scheme started.
Question No. 10.