National park staffing levels
The Minister reported employment figures for four parks in 1982 and 1984, with small reductions at Killarney and Letterfrack and no Phoenix Park superintendent yet appointed. He attributed staffing reductions mainly to the Government embargo and said recruitment for the superintendent post would resume through Civil Service Commissioner interviews.
asked the Minister for Finance the number of people employed in the National Park, Killarney, County Kerry, in 1982 and the number employed at present.
8.
Comment on this
asked the Minister for Finance the number of people employed in the National Park, Letterfrack, in 1982; and the number employed at present.
9.
Comment on this
asked the Minister for Finance the number of people employed in Glenveagh National Park, Donegal, in 1982; and the number employed at present.
10.
Comment on this
asked the Minister for Finance the number of people employed in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, in 1982; the number employed at present; and if a superintendent has been appointed.
Comment on this
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 10, inclusive, together. The numbers requested by the Deputy are being related to 1 January 1982 and 1 January 1984 and are as follows:— Killarney National Park: The numbers employed were 72 in 1982 and 70 in 1984. Connemara National Park, Letterfrack: The numbers employed were 21 in 1982 and 20 in 1984. Glenveagh National Park, County Donegal: The numbers were 44 in 1982 and 47 in 1984. Phoenix Park, Dublin: The numbers employed were 115 in 1982 and 109 in 1984. A superintendent has not yet been appointed in the Phoenix Park.
Comment on this
Why has the number of people employed in the National Parks in Killarney and Letterfrack been reduced? Why is no superintendent employed in the Phoenix Park? There was a reduction of two people in the National Park in Killarney and another two in Letterfrack. The condition of the Phoenix Park has deteriorated considerably. What is the reason for that? Is it because there are fewer people employed or the fact that there has been no superintendent there for the past six months?
Comment on this
The reduction in the numbers employed is due to a number of reasons but the main one is the Government embargo. Before we have an argument about that, Fianna Fáil when in office also adopted that policy. In Glenveagh the posts are of a supervisory nature. It is intended to employ a superintendent in the Phoenix Park. An offer was made to an employee in that range of national parks and we hoped to fill the vacancy in that way. However, it has not proved successful and we are now asking the Civil Service Commissioners to hold interviews.