asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is yet in a position to state when the sum of £1,000,000 which the Minister for Finance indicated in his Budget statement would be allocated for extra road works will be made available to local authorities for the execution of such works so as to relieve the acute unemployment which exists.
Private Notice Question. - Allocation of Road Works Grant.
I would refer the Deputy to my answer in reply to Question No. 1 on the Order Paper. My reply sets out the position with regard to the allocation of relief funds as a whole.
Is the Minister aware that much propaganda has been indulged in in the City of Cork in relation to the Relief Vote of £160,000, and that it is suggested that the amount allocated for a relief scheme under the Relief Vote passed by this Dáil is £1,000,000 instead of £160,000?
Might I remind the Minister that this is the month of July and that road work cannot be conveniently or efficiently executed during the winter months. In view of the passage of the Summer season and the acute unemployment that exists, will he do something specially and expeditiously to have this money made available for local authorities, so that as much work as possible can be carried out at the earliest possible moment?
I agree with the Deputy that this is the best time to get certain types of road work done and other relief work also, but the difficulty arises about getting unemployed people to register. We think that sufficient time to register has now been given in places where there was slackness. Almost everything is ready, as far as the Department in concerned, for the issuing of part of this money immediately, and I think that in the next week or two there will be considerable advance made.
Is the Minister satisfied that there is a sufficient number of unemployed registered at present to absorb much more than the million which is set down for unemployment relief? Will the Minister say when the one million pounds will be made available to local authorities.
Part of it is available now.
Do I take it from that that the Minister's Department is prepared to consider and sanction schemes for local authorities, if found suitable, with regard to the one million pounds at present?
Certainly.