asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries if he can state the amount already sanctioned for approved works now being carried out by the Irish Land Commission out of moneys provided from the Relief Schemes Vote, and also particulars of the number of men employed on such works during the week ending 7th February, 1931.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Approved Works.
Works have been or are about to be undertaken—the estimated total cost of which amounts to between £70,000 and £80,000—by means of grants out of moneys provided by the Relief Vote.
The particulars of the number of men employed on such works for the week ending the 7th February are not available.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary say whether or not he took any steps to find out from his inspectors or from the Chief Inspector of the Land Commission if anyone was employed and if so how many during that week?
I do not propose to take any steps to obtain that information. I do not consider that information of that kind would really be of very much value to the Land Commission. The Deputy must remember that if the Chief Inspector is asked to supply information of that kind he must get the information, in the first instance, from the inspectors and they, in turn, must get it from the men working under them. It is really a difficult matter for the Land Commission inspectors to collect information regarding the number of men engaged on relief works on a certain date. In addition, it means a considerable waste of time. It means that during the time the inspector in charge of the county is collecting that information his attention is diverted from more useful work.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary say why he declines to furnish this information to the House while at the same time somebody in charge can give the information to Cumann na nGaedheal organisers?
No such information has been given to anybody.