asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that owing to the inadequacy of the Trunk Road Scheme great hardship is being caused to the people of Carlow and Kilkenny as a consequence of unemployment, and whether it is proposed to make a grant to the County Councils in these Counties to enable work to be started, and thus relieve the large number of unemployed who are at the moment destitute.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - TRUNK ROAD SCHEME.
I am not aware that abnormal unemployment exists in Carlow and Kilkenny, but I will consult the Minister for Industry and Commerce on that matter. If such exists it is certainly not attributable to any consideration affecting the repair or maintenance of Trunk Roads. I may say that it is hoped it may be possible very soon to make grants for the repairing and reconstruction of certain damaged bridges in these and other counties.
Are we to take it from the Minister, because he has not consulted specially with the Minister for Industry and Commerce on this point, that he thinks there is no unemployment in the counties concerned?
That is not so. I am quite well aware there is unemployment in the counties concerned, but it is not abnormal unemployment.
Therefore it does not matter?
It is to be treated generally, not as a special problem.