asked the Minister for Finance if he will state what areas in County Dublin will receive relief grants for Christmas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Dublin Unemployment.
asked the Minister for Finance whether any grant will be made available for the relief of unemployment in the districts of Swords, Lusk, Skerries and Balbriggan, County Dublin.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 46 together. The only rural areas in County Dublin that qualify for allocations out of the moneys voted for the relief of unemployment in 1950-51 are Swords and Balbriggan. According to the latest available returns, the numbers of registered unemployment assistance recipients in the Lusk and Skerries areas are not sufficient to warrant the provision of employment schemes.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there is abnormal unemployment in the areas mentioned in my question and that the amount of grants which have hitherto been notified to the county council in respect of these areas is totally inadequate, representing about one-third of what is required to ensure that the registered unemployed will be given work, for Christmas at least; and will the Parliamentary Secretary now state whether further grants will be made available in these areas without delay?
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the reason there are so many unemployed in my constituency now is as a result of the policy of the inter-Party Government? If the Parliamentary Secretary, in his reply, states that there are only a few areas in County Dublin on the relief grants, I have here a list of 15 areas in the county where there is a number of unemployed at present and even now, when the Labour Party and the other Parties are all together, would they honour some of the promises they made to these people three years ago?
On the 1st November, 1950, the total number of unemployment assistance recipients registered in the towns of Rush, Lusk, Skerries and four adjoining electoral divisions was only eight.
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I give notice that I wish to raise this matter on the Adjournment.