asked the Minister for Finance the number of manual workers recruited by the Office of Public Works through the employment exchanges in the past year to the latest available date; and the corresponding number of jobs filled by direct application in the same period.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - OPW Manual Workers.
17.
In the 12 months ended 31st May, 1972, some 782 manual workers at various centres throughout the country were recruited by the Office of Public Works, the great majority of them for seasonal or other short-term employment; 741 of these were recruited through employment exchanges or the National Manpower Service in accordance with established policy. Of the remaining 41, 13 were recruited direct because they were former employees and 28 because they possessed scarce skills which were not available through employment exchanges.
Why, if such is the case, does the Office of Public Works issue duplicate application forms which people are expected to sign, people who are seeking employment in the Office of Public Works? I am talking about non-skilled workers.
If the Deputy had been here yesterday, when I was replying to the debate on my Estimate, he would know that I read out the form it has been the practice to send out from the Office of Public Works. This was the form sent out by most Parliamentary Secretaries who preceded me. It is a form seeking just basic information.
Why is the applicant not referred to the employment exchange or to the manpower section?
Every applicant is informed that he cannot be employed by the Office of Public Works unless he is nominated by the employment exchange or the Dublin manpower agency.
Why are the people not referred to the employment exchange?
They are asked their employment number and various other details.
Why are they not referred to the employment exchange?
They are.
It is political patronage. The Parliamentary Secretary knows what I am talking about.
The Deputy gets up here and makes allegations without any foundation and he will not listen to the answer.
What I stated is with foundation. The Parliamentary Secretary knows it is.
I replied to the debate on the Estimate for the Office of Public Works yesterday and I read out the form.
It is political patronage.
Question No. 18. Will Deputy O'Connell please sit down?
The people are intimidated by the Parliamentary Secretary's hack.
Will Deputy O'Connell please allow questions to continue?
How long does it take a person employed in the Office of Public Works to qualify as a permanent employee?
That is a separate question.
It is one the Parliamentary Secretary will not answer.
I dealt with this in my reply yesterday, too, but the Deputy was not here.
I was on a deputation to the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.
Practically all the temporary workers who were on the contract list are now in permanent employment and have the benefit of better retirement and social rights than the building workers.
When did this happen?
Nearly two years ago. It is time the Deputy woke up.
Cut out the political patronage.
There is no political patronage. Indeed, some of the Deputy's friends will probably be applying for work this week in the Phoenix Park.
My friends will not be looking for work in the Phoenix Park.
I have a file on the Deputy and I will take him on on his own low level.