asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that the regular county council road workers in the Milford, Liscarroll, Rockchapel, Meelin and Newmarket areas, County Cork, are at present unemployed, and if he will state what steps he intends to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployed Road Workers.
As I indicated to Deputy Hogan in reply to a question last Wednesday, it is a matter for each county council to decide on the time schedules for the execution of their several programmes of public works.
I understand from the Cork County Council that, following approval of the road works schemes for the current year and the notification of the first section of the grant in respect of works proposed under the Local Authorities (Works) Act, 1949, all regular road workers in the Milford, Liscarroll, Rockchapel and Newmarket areas should be engaged on the various schemes, including ordinary road maintenance works now in progress.
As regards the Meelin area, I understand that there are no regular road workers at present unemployed there.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the regular road workers in the Milford district, for the first time in five years, have had to go on their stamps this year in the month of April? Would the Parliamentary Secretary state that a considerable amount of money should have been spent in that area during the latter portion of last year but came back to the Department due to the carelessness of the engineers there?
I suppose the citizens of Cork know that the Deputy voted for a reduction in the road grants.
As far as employment in these areas is concerned, there is a sufficiency of money to have all road workers who were employed this time last year employed this year. The road improvement schemes have been approved. Also the sum of £20,000 has been allocated to North Cork under the Local Authorities (Works) Act.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary insist on the engineers concerned carrying out the work, and carrying it out in the near future, so that the men will be employed?
The county council can do that very effectively.