asked the Minister for Finance whether the Inter-Departmental Committee appointed to investigate the practicability of promoting "novel" schemes of public works have completed their investigations; whether the final report of the committee has been submitted to him, whether he will state the nature of the several schemes recommended by the committee and the estimated cost of such schemes; whether any scheme submitted to and investigated by the committee has been approved; whether work has commenced on any scheme formulated by the committee and, if so, on how many such schemes; whether he will state further the number of men employed on schemes investigated and recommended by the committee; and if work has not commenced on any scheme recommended by the committee if he will state when it is contemplated such work will commence.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Public Works Schemes.
The word "novel" does not appear in the terms of reference of the committee.
(1) The Inter-Departmental Committee on Public Works have concluded their investigations.
(2) The final report of the committee has been submitted to the Minister for Finance.
(3) The schemes put forward by the committee fall broadly under the headings of public health works, road works, peat development schemes, schemes for the reclamation and improvement of lands, minor relief schemes (accommodation roads, small marine works, etc.) and other works coming within the sphere of central and local government administration.
(4) The committee made no detailed estimates of the cost of particular works beyond indicating the possible maximum limit of expenditure under each of the heads.
(5) Many schemes of the kind put forward by the committee have been approved by the Government.
(6) Work has been commenced in the current financial year on a large number of road schemes, public health schemes, etc., all of a kind put forward by the committee.
(7) Owing to the large number of individual schemes in operation it is not possible to give the number of workmen in employment at the moment. The schemes financed under the Employment Vote of this year were begun early in November last, just after the expiration of the Summer Employment Period Order and the progressive record of employment since then is as follows:—
Week ended 25th November, 1936, 8,221.
Week ended 19th December, 1936, 31,173.
Week ended 16th January, 1937, 37,829.
Week ended 6th February, 1937, 42,220.
Week ended 13th February, 1937 (the latest date I have available), 45,235.
(8) The programme compiled by the committee and submitted to the Minister for Finance was designed in accordance with their terms of reference to cover a period of four years; the number of schemes started in the current year is governed by the financial provision made by the Dáil this year.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary say whether the workers employed under the schemes are all employed on a rotation basis, or could he give any indication how many are employed three days a week and how many four days a week?
The vast number are employed on a rotation basis but I would say the average would be about three and a half days.
The average?
The maximum.
The maximum is four days.
Is it intended to publish this report?
That is not yet decided.
Has the Parliamentary Secretary any statistics to show whether any of these men are required to stamp unemployment insurance cards, or whether work done under these schemes is regarded as of an agricultural character?
In some cases such as public health schemes, and schemes of that kind, the men have both sets of cards. In a considerable number of cases they have only one.
Would it be possible for the Parliamentary Secretary to get statistics in his Department showing how many of these men are stamping unemployment cards?
It will be possible, eventually.
If a question was addressed within the next week or so?
I would not profess to answer it in a week. At the present moment we are much too deeply engaged employing the men.
For three and a half days.