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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 4 Nov 1964

Vol. 212 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Post Office Christmas Employment.

76.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will take steps to ensure that such extra employment as may become available during the Christmas and pre-Christmas period will be given to persons most in need; and if he will ensure that all additional sorters jobs will not be filled entirely by vacationing students.

Temporary staff required for Christmas postal traffic are selected from persons registered for such work at employment exchanges. Unemployed men are given preference for employment provided they are suitable.

I am sure the Minister is aware that every year for several years this question has been the subject of complaints from people who are more or less chronically registered at the labour exchanges and who are suitable for work such as sorting and delivering letters, but who find that vacationing students who register for the purpose of getting this employment get in ahead of them. Does the Minister not think that it is only right that such people, who are, as I say, more or less part of the unemployed, should get a certain preference—all things being equal—over students who want it for pin money?

I can assure the Deputy that all persons who are suitable and have signed on the unemployment register are taken by the Department. The Department's officials are the people who decide as to their suitability.

Over the years the complaint has been to the contrary.

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