asked the President if he is aware of the acute distress that prevails amongst all sections of the working-classes in Westmeath and Longford, and if it is likely that a substantial grant will be given to the councils of the counties mentioned for relief work therein; whether he has received a resolution unanimously adopted at a public meeting in Moate asking for a grant for the relief of distress among the workers of South Westmeath, and, if so, what steps he proposes to take in the matter; and, further, if the relief work cannot be started immediately, whether he will have legislation introduced to grant unemployment benefit to every man and woman, whether insured or not, who can prove that they are unemployed through no fault of their own.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - DISTRESS IN WESTMEATH AND LONGFORD.
SEAN O LAIDHIN
Grants of £2,500 and £2,000 from the Relief Schemes Vote were recently notified to the county councils of Westmeath and Longford, respectively. Grants of £300 were also made to each of the urban districts of Granard, Longford and Athlone.
The resolution referred to by the Deputy was received, but it is not now possible to make any further allocations from the Relief Schemes Vote.