asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware of the large number of men unemployed in Droichead Nua; that a number of them have been summoned to the next District Court for non-payment of rates, and that it is impossible for them to pay unless they can procure employment, and whether he can arrange with the appropriate Department for a stay of proceedings of the decrees in these cases until the men obtain work; whether, considering all those circumstances he will give instructions to have the roadwork sanctioned for the area, or other work, started at once.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - UNEMPLOYMENT IN DROICHEAD NUA.
Mr. HOGAN
I am aware of the extent of unemployment in Droichead Nua. I have no information on the second portion of the question but it is open to the defaulters to represent their circumstances to the District Court. A grant of £11,670 for tarring work was notified to the Kildare County Council on the 23rd ultimo and a further grant of £31,720 under the National Scheme was notified on the 7th instant. The latter includes work in the Droichead Nua area and it is for the County Council to expedite the carrying out of the scheme.
Is the Minister aware that owing to the particular method of surfacing specified it will not be possible to get that work started within the next twelve months, so that there would be no benefit in the meantime from the unemployment point of view? If the Minister would agree to another form of surfacing being carried out in the Droichead Nua area men could be put on immediately, and it would be a means of remedying the present hardship. I would ask the Minister to give consideration to allowing another form of surfacing to be laid down so as to relieve unemployment.
Mr. HOGAN
Obviously a point like that would have to be put to the Minister for Local Government.