asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the number of people employed as water keepers by Bangor Erris Board of Conservators prior to it being abolished; the number of these re-employed when the new board was established and if it was agreed that priority for appointment be given to those who lost their jobs on the establishment of the new boards.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Appointment of Water Keepers.
5.
The former Bangor Board of Conservators employed two whole-time waterkeepers, now called fishery officers, and in addition regularly employed ten to 12 temporary fishery officers for about six months each year during the salmon fishing season.
The North Western Regional Board, when established, retained the two whole-time fishery officers and, as a matter of policy, replaced the part-time fishery officers by five whole-time fishery officers.
The selection of persons as fishery officers is a matter for the board. The board, in filling the five new whole-time posts and in consultation with the union, gave preference to the former part-time fishery officers subject to suitability.
Is the Minister aware that at least one person who had been acting for the Bangor Board of Conservators has not been appointed for temporary work and that other people who did not have previous experience have been given appointments? Can the Minister explain why this happened?
No, I cannot. Such appointments, either part-time or whole-time, are a matter for the North Western Regional Board and the Minister has no say whatever in the way they make such appointments. I presume appointments are based on the suitability of a candidate and the kind of work that has to be done.
Is the Minister aware that in this case the person concerned had been in the service of the Bangor board for a number of years and, as a result of representations made on his behalf by the parish priest of the area he was told "should the board need part-time staff during the summer months he will be borne in mind". That letter was from the acting manager but that promise has not been kept.
From the information available to me it appears that the practice of employing part-time people has been discontinued and the five whole-time officers were appointed from the existing part-time staff. That is all the information I have. I do not know of the specific case to which the Deputy has referred.