asked the Minister for Local Government whether in view of the increasing difficulties for unemployed persons in the present economic situation, he will take steps to alleviate their position by reintroducing the scheme of Christmas relief grants.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Christmas Relief Grants.
105.
There is no provision in my Department's Vote for 1970-71 to enable such grants to be made.
Does the Minister not agree that the withdrawal of unemployment relief grants in the past two years was a serious loss to local authorities and more particularly the unemployed for whom these grants were designed? These grants were provided mainly to give employment to the unemployed around Christmas time. They were designed to have a very high labour content. The Minister must know that their withdrawal must mean a very unhappy Christmas for many unemployed people this Christmas. In view of the increased number of unemployed does he not think it is disgraceful to have with-held these essential grants in the past two years?
There is no provision for this in my Department's Vote and I cannot reintroduce the scheme unless I have money to do so.
Was the Minister in short trousers or in nappies when the Transitional Development Fund was introduced before Christmas in 1947 by the then Taoiseach, Mr. de Valera? Would he not like to take on the mantle of Mr. de Valera and introduce a similar Father Christmas Fund this year?
I am not so presumptuous as to try to assume the mantle of Mr. de Valera. I could never come up to that standard, although I might strive to do so.
Would the Minister not agree that it was a particularly irresponsible and callous decision to interfere with the unemployment relief grants at Christmas——
The Deputy is asking the Minister to express an opinion. That is not his function at Question Time.
Is there any means at the Minister's disposal of bringing to the notice of the Cabinet and the Minister for Finance the urgency of making these grants again available for the relief of the unemployed this Christmas?
Of course he could do it if he wanted to.
Could the Minister not bring in a Supplementary Estimate? He would have the full support of the House and certainly of the Labour Party. Is there any means available to the Minister of reintroducing these grants?
There is no money provided in the Estimate for my Department this year to carry out this scheme. That is the position. If the Deputy is suggesting a Supplementary Estimate in the present financial situation I wonder which side the irresponsibility is on.
(Interruptions.)
It was a disgraceful and callous decision on the part of any Minister for Local Government.