asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that vacancies for several hundred men exist at Castlecomer, Arigna, Ballylinan and other Irish collieries; and if he will arrange for suitable men from the Army Corps of Engineers to take up employment at these collieries, at trade union wages, with a view to providing fuel for the people in general, railways, industries and business establishments, pending the recruitment of sufficient labour to fill these vacancies.

There are vacancies at coal mines for skilled underground coal face workers. I am not aware that there are vacancies for inexperienced workers. No useful result would be achieved by adopting the suggestion in the question.

Did the Minister see a statement by one of the directors that there was sufficient work for a big number of men in his colliery?

I informed the Deputy that there are vacancies for skilled underground coal face workers.

Is not that work for Army Corps engineers?

Army Corps engineers are not skilled underground coal face workers.