asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state (1) how many schemes under the Local Authorities (Works) Act are at present actually in operation in County Clare; (2) how many submitted by the Clare County Council are still awaiting sanction in his Department and why sanction for these is not forthcoming, and (3) the number sanctioned by his Department which have not yet been put into operation by the executive engineering authority of the council.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Authority Schemes.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that the majority of road workers in County Clare are at present on short time with consequent unemployment and hardship, and if he will make representations to the county council to have the schemes submitted under the Local Authorities (Works) Act put into immediate operation so as to relieve that hardship and unemployment.
With the permission of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 44 together.
Before dealing in detail with the questions, I wish to say that it is primarily a matter for the county council to decide on the time schedules for the execution of the several programmes of public works in the various parts of the county.
I am informed that the county council decided to operate these programmes during the present financial year, so that reasonably constant employment would be afforded throughout and that not more than 5 per cent. of the workers are on short time. During the first half of April employment was at about 75 per cent. of the planned average for the year, but in fact the overall figures for mid-April between roads and Local Authorities (Works) Act schemes show an increase on April of last year. Informal sanction issued since then to most of the proposals submitted to absorb the council's share of the main and county road improvement grants for 1950-51 and I understand that the employment position has improved considerably.
The county council have to date submitted 358 schemes under the Local Authorities (Works) Act at an estimated cost of £297,222 for the present financial year. They have been informed that, pending a decision as to the final grant which will be made available in 1950/51 for the schemes under the Act, it is open to them to select schemes not exceeding £20,000 in total cost from a list of approved works. The works approved so far, totalling £45,326 in estimated cost, number 64. I understand that 22 of these schemes are at present operating. Sanction to further expenditure under the Works Act programme will issue in due course.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state whether schemes for employment have been submitted to his Department for sanction in respect of the Ennis urban area; and, if so, if he will state the schemes submitted, when they were submitted and the reason for the delay in giving approval to them.
I assume the Deputy is referring to the schemes under the Local Authorities (Works) Act submitted by the Ennis Urban District Council for execution in the present financial year. The council on 17th February, 1950, submitted four schemes at a total estimated cost of £5,746. This was in response to a request from the Department to the local authorities to submit schemes in advance so that they might be considered for execution in the present financial year. The council indicated that if the schemes were sanctioned they proposed to ask the Clare County Council to carry out the work.
The proposed schemes have been examined and the council have been informed that one of them at an estimated cost of £880 is in order and may be proceeded with if the county council are willing to carry out the work. A decision in regard to the remaining schemes will be given when certificates which the local authority have been asked to furnish are received. There has been no avoidable delay in dealing with the matter.