§ Sir J. BUTCHERasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that a number of ex-service men in Ireland skilled in the building trade are unable to obtain employment; whether the Irish Board of Works, in giving out contracts recently for building and reconstruction works in Dublin, has made any provision for the employment of disabled or other ex-service men; whether the painting of the King's Inns in Dublin is now being performed by civilian labour: whether such work or the greater part of it could be suitably performed by partially disabled ex-service men; whether steps will be taken to have these men so employed: and whether, with a view to the employment of ex-service men, Government contracts will in future be given to ex-service men who, through grants or otherwise, have been re-established in business?
§ Mr. BALDWINI am informed that there is no considerable number of ex-service 1973W men qualified as skilled tradesmen in the building trades out of employment in Ireland at present. Owing, however, to a strike in several of the building trades in Dublin there are at the moment some ex-service men registered as painters and out of work in that city. The larger building firms with whom contracts are placed by the Board of Works employ many ex-service men and the Board are endeavouring in every way to facilitate the employment of such men whether disabled or not and will be happy to give those who have been re-established in business an opportunity of tendering for works which they are in a position to undertake. They are themselves directly employing 135 ex-service men besides those on their regular staff on various works in Dublin and Kingstown. In regard to the work at the Kings Inns the expenditure is not met out of Government funds. I have ascertained that it is being carried out by a large Dublin contractor under the orders of the Benchers and at their expense.