asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware that a number of labourers including married men with seventeen years' service, employed by the Forestry Section of his Department between Kilgarvan and Glenflesk, Killarney, County Kerry have been laid off; and if he will take steps to re-employ them or to find alternative work for them in the area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Forestry Workers.
33.
I am aware that there was a reduction in staff at Kilgarvan Forest at the end of March. The reduction was due to contraction in the volume of work available consequent on the lack of intake of new lands. A steady intake of new lands is a necessary prerequisite to the maintenance of a constant level of employment but despite my Department's best efforts it has not been found possible to achieve such intake in the Kilgarvan area.
I am arranging to make some additions to the current programme to enable a couple of the men to be reemployed but I must emphasise that unless there is an improvement in the intake position it will not be possible to avoid further redundancy later.