To ask the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware of the serious distress which has been suffered by road-workers in Ennis Rural District who were out of employment during the "Terror," and who were also out of employment for seven months in 1922, and so far have not been employed in 1923, and whether, in view of their condition, he could arrange for relief to be given to these road-workers, who constitute the majority of tenants of labourers' cottages, by a remission of the arrears of rent due or at least a postponement of their liability to pay.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. [ ORAL ANSWERS. ] - ROAD-WORKERS IN ENNIS RURAL DISTRICT.
The collection of rates in the County Clare has been in a most unsatisfactory condition for a considerable time, but an improvement has recently taken place. There is at present a total uncollected amount of about £200,000, including a large amount of the 1921 rate. Owing to this state of facts the County Council have had difficulty in financing the public services of the county. In some cases they have had to allow salaries to remain unpaid for nearly two years, and the various institutions have not received the full amounts required for their upkeep. I am informed, however, that the County Council has at all times kept over 400 men employed on direct labour on the roads, and that the rate of wages paid has not been reduced by reason of the difficult financial position. My information is that there is no such abnormal poverty in the county as would warrant the proposal to remit or postpone the payment of the rent of labourers' cottages. Cases have been reported of men who were in regular employment having sought to evade payment of the relatively small rents due by them. It is understood that, with a return to satisfactory financial conditions, it is the Council's intention to greatly increase the number of men employed on road work.