asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he can state what steps, if any, he proposes to take in finding employment for those who were employed in the Carlow Sugar Factory and, are now idle.

Employment in the Sugar Factory is known to be seasonal. Those who work in it during the period of the campaign have, when the employment terminates, no special claim for preferential treatment as compared with other unemployed workers. If they register at the Employment Exchanges every effort will be made to place them in any available employment.

Will the Minister state whether he is now in a position to start work on the River Barrow at Graigue-Cullen, where considerable flooding has been going on for some time?

That is not a matter for me.

It means leaving men unemployed when almost two-thirds of those working in the factory are unemployed.

I said that if they register efforts will be made to place them in suitable employment.