asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries whether, in view of the stoppage of emigration to the United States, and the particularly bad season for migratory labourers in Great Britain, the Government propose to make provision for the carrying out of schemes of reclamation, road improvement and drainage in the congested districts during the coming months.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment Schemes in Mayo Congested Districts.
The Land Commission are actively engaged in carrying out improvement works in the congested districts and this work will, of course, continue during the coming months. During the first half of the present financial year some £60,000 have been expended on improvement works in those districts, apart from a total sum of over £60,000 also expended there by the Land Commission out of the recent vote for the relief of unemployment and distress.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary mean by "recent" Vote the Vote last year?
Yes.
There will be no such Vote such as that this year for the relief of distress?
That is a matter for the Minister for Finance.
asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries if he is aware that grave distress exists in the Erris and other areas in County Mayo, owing to the partial failure of the potato and oat crops; and if he will state what steps it is proposed to take to deal with the situation.
The powers of the Land Commission in regard to expenditure out of Voted moneys are limited to the improvement of estates, and they have no funds available for the direct relief of such agricultural conditions as the Deputy mentions. There has been considerable expenditure on estate improvement works in the Erris area and such expenditure will be continued wherever necessary. In addition, special efforts are being made to improve conditions in the district by encouraging and assisting the reclamation of poor land in order to make it fit for tillage, and sums amounting to over £4,000 have been recently expended or are in course of expenditure by the Land Commission for such ameliorative work in and around this district, involving the reclamation of over 1,000 acres and affecting 200 tenants.