asked the Minister for Transport and Power how many seasonal workers were engaged by Bord na Móna at Coolnagun, County Westmeath and Ballivor, County Meath in 1961; how many are engaged in 1962; how many have been knocked off during the month of July in Ballivor; to what extent the mechanical turf collector has contributed to the laying-off of staff; and whether any alternative employment has been provided for the displaced workers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bord na Móna Seasonal Workers.
23.
The recruitment and employment of workers is the sole responsibility of Bord na Móna. On inquiry, however, I have been informed by Bord na Móna that the numbers of seasonal workers employed at Coolnagun and Ballivor in 1961 were, at peak, 380 and 230 respectively. The numbers employed in 1962, at peak, were 192 and 150 respectively. The number of men knocked off during the month of July, 1962, in Ballivor was 70. The mechanical turf collector and improvements in other harvesting machinery have speeded up harvesting operations and reduced the number of workers necessary to complete this work. Exceptionally suitable weather conditions were also conducive to the speeding up of the harvesting work.
The displaced workers are casual workers employed on a day to day basis for harvesting work and the Board has no alternative employment for them. The maximum number of men for whom work is available is employed at the works concerned.
It is the Board's policy to mechanise operations as far as possible and only in this way can production and sale of turf be maximised and steady employment for regular workers guaranteed.
Having regard to the seasonal character of the work provided by Bord na Móna and to the fact that there is no other work normally available over the winter and early spring, will the Minister ask Bord na Móna to give sympathetic consideration to restricting the use of mechanical turf collectors as a matter of social policy, so as to provide employment for as long a period as possible in these rural areas, where, as I have said, there is no other work normally available for these workers laid off by Bord na Móna?
Bord na Móna always make a supreme effort to employ as many persons as possible under economic conditions. If the Deputy will wait until the Estimate for Transport and Power is taken, I will give the figures showing the acutely competitive conditions as between turf in all its forms and coal at present prices. The future of Bord na Móna depends on the most economic exploitation of our peat resources. I have also asked Bord na Móna to do all they can to ensure that those who will be employed on a purely temporary basis are warned in advance that the work is of purely temporary kind, so that no one will be under any illusion on receiving employment which may be terminated before the end of the season.
We will have to wait until October.