asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that quite a large number of employees have been served with notice of discharge by Fuel Importers, Limited; and, if so, whether he will state the reason for their dismissal and also whether it is proposed to provide them with alternative employment.

I am aware that a number of workers employed by Fuel Importers (Éire), Limited, have received notice of discharge. These workers have become redundant since the work on which they were employed, namely, the conversion of firewood lengths to blocks has been completed.

The feasibility of providing alternative work through the medium of employment schemes for these workers is under examination.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the number of the following classes of workers who have lost their employment with Fuel Importers (Éire), Limited, in Dublin since the 16th February, 1948: (a) turf workers; (b) turf hauliers; and (c) workers on coal and timber.

I am informed that since 16th February, 1948, Fuel Importers (Éire), Limited, have discharged some 83 workers who were engaged in the handling of turf and 278 employed in handling firewood and coal. The company's turf haulage is done by contract and there is no information available to my Department regarding the variation in employment on that work but nine lorries engaged on internal dump cartage at the Dublin dumps have been laid off since that date.

Is the Minister aware that last week in this House the Minister for Finance wanted the names of about 500 people who were disemployed by Fuel Importers, Limited, because he has alternative employment for them immediately? I suppose he can add that figure to the number who will be laid off to-morrow. We will have more than 500 to deal with immediately.

I am afraid to say what I feel like saying.

The Minister for Finance denied last week in this House that turf workers are unemployed, and he asked for the names of the unemployed men. Everybody heard him.

Where?

They were laid off by Fuel Importers, Limited. The Minister challenged Deputy P. J. Burke to produce their names.

May I answer that? The Minister for Finance was not aware at the time he made that statement that those men were being laid off.

He denied it.

Because he had not been informed.

If the Minister had not the information at the time why should he not deny it?

That is a typically Fine Gael answer.

Question No. 51.

The Minister asked me to give him information on that matter.

The Deputy's supplementary may not be answered. The next question has been called.