asked the Minister for Local Government what steps he has taken to provide grants for the county councils of (a) Laoighis, and (b) Offaly, in order to avoid unemployment among the workers at present employed on road works and other works under the Local Authorities (Works) Act, 1949; and if he will state the extent of the unemployment which will be caused in both counties if such funds are not made available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Grants for County Councils.
The current year's grant allocations out of the Road Fund and out of the provision made by the Oireachtas for grants to local authorities executing works under the Local Authorities (Works) Act have already been notified to all county councils. The timing and execution of the programmes thereunder with due regard to the avoidance of sharp fluctuations in employment are matters for each authority. It is understood that in Laoighis some men were laid off because the works were carried out at an accelerated rate in the early part of the financial year. The position was discussed in the Department recently with the county manager and county engineer and is under consideration. In Offaly the county engineer expects to be able to maintain, if not increase, the average level of employment.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary consider the advisability of asking for a further supplementary grant to meet the cost of schemes lying in his Department and awaiting sanction?
Would the Parliamentary Secretary undertake to keep in close communication with the county councils of Laoighis and Offaly and see, as far as possible, that no further men will lose their employment, in view of the statement made some time ago by his Minister that, as far as the Local Authorities (Works) Act was concerned, the sky was the limit for money? We want to see that those men are kept in employment.