asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the number of men unemployed in the area of Daingean and Rhode, County Offaly; and, if so, whether he will state why work is not available for them and what steps will be taken to provide work for them immediately.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Work for Offaly Unemployed.
I am not aware of any exceptional unemployment in the areas referred to, and the other parts of the question, therefore, do not arise.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary indicate where he received his information? Is he aware of the fact that I visited this district last night and that every second man in Daingean and Rhode is unemployed? I can furnish their names and addresses.
The total number registered as unemployed in the employment exchange area of Daingean and the six surrounding electoral divisions is 14, all of whom are drawing unemployment benefit. In the five electoral divisions surrounding Rhode, the total number of unemployed is four, of whom two are drawing benefit.
Is it not possible to put the 14 unemployed men into work immediately and take them off the unemployment benefit? I have an intimate knowledge of the conditions in these districts. Does the Parliamentary Secretary think I am daft enough to believe that there are only four unemployed in the Rhode area? I would ask him to consider calling for a new report with a view to ascertaining correctly the number of unemployed in the district, and putting a scheme into operation to provide these men with employment.
You are getting shaky.
Not in the least.