asked the Minister for Lands the number of persons employed in forestry work by his Department in the Castletownbere district, County Cork; whether it is likely that further workers will be employed in the district in the near future; and if he will outline the system of recruitment used by his Department in the employing of forestry workers in this district.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Castletownbere Forestry Workers.
8.
There are four men at present employed by the Forestry Division of my Department in the Castletownbere district. Additional men are not required at the moment, but a few extra men may be needed when planting work gets under way. The men at present employed are local men who were recruited in the normal way through the nearest Employment Exchange.
Will the Minister define "the normal way" through the local employment exchange? Am I to assume that a man in receipt, say, of the highest unemployment benefit has the first right to any forestry employment which becomes available in the district? Is that the normal way of recruitment? Can the Minister employ a person who happens to know a vacancy is arising and who just puts his name on the register a few days previously? I want a clear definition of "the normal way".
As far as I know, the forester applies for the list of unemployed from the local employment exchange and chooses the men from the list. I do not know if any priority is applied
A person, would the Minister not agree, in receipt of the highest benefit would be the most deserving applicant and should get the work? That would be fair and just to everyone.
I assume that the forester would choose from the list the best and most suitable man for the job. He would not be doing his duty otherwise.
Assuming three vacancies arose in a forest, how many names would the forester ask for— just three names or 12 or 14?
The forester asks for the full list, as far as I am aware.
I would——
Deputy M.P. Murphy cannot monopolise Question Time. I have allowed him four supplementary questions.