asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that as a result of the recent decision of the Government in regard to the production of hand-won turf there will be serious unemployment in the bog areas in County Kerry and if it is his intention as an alternative means of employment to start drainage schemes, rural development schemes or other employment schemes in the county.
Written Answers. - Unemployment in Kerry Bog Areas.
asked the Minister for Finance whether, in view of the widespread unemployment caused by the closing down of peat schemes, he will consider the advisability of starting at an early date minor unemployment relief schemes on works of public utility.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 57 and 58 together.
As indicated in the official statement issued on behalf of the Government on Tuesday, steps are being taken to provide alternative employment for workers disemployed owing to the discontinuance of the production of handwon turf. Moneys are being made available to local authorities to enable them to expand their programmes of road works and drainage maintenance in the turf areas affected. Provision is also being made for the employment of such workers on the improvement of accommodation roads to lands and villages, that is, roads not ordinarily maintainable by local authorities. In addition, a new scheme of field drainage is being introduced which will provide further employment; this scheme will, for the present, be limited to the turf areas in Counties Galway and Mayo.