asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether it is proposed to provide in the proposed Transport Bill compensatory benefits for employees in the Dundalk engineering works who may be dismissed as a result of the absorption of the G.N.R. by C.I.E. in September next and for employees in the conciliation grades (drivers, firemen, cleaners, etc.), who will not be transferred to C.I.E. next September.

New legislation is at present being prepared to provide for the amalgamation of the G.N.R. undertaking in the State with C.I.E. It is intended to include in the legislation provision for compensation of G.N.R. employees in the conciliation grades who may become redundant or suffer a worsening of conditions as a consequence of the amalgamation. As regards the Dundalk works which have already been taken over by the Dundalk Engineering Works, Limited, the position has already been explained and will not be further affected by the amalgamation.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary mean by that that men who will be dismissed in September, when the amalgamation takes place, will not be entitled to compensation?

In answer to the supplementary question, I wish to say that employees who are taken over by C.I.E. will qualify for the present rates of pensions and so on applicable to C.I.E. employees. Any other employees from the works who may become redundant must have a special arrangement whereby compensation can be paid to them.

The door has not been closed so?

No.