asked the Minister for Finance if he will indicate what funds will be made available to relieve the serious unemployment problem in Counties Laoighis and Offaly, and what schemes are to be undertaken immediately.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Laoighis and Offaly Unemployment.
The moneys available in the Employment and Emergency Schemes Vote are primarily intended to provide a spell of employment during the winter months to men in receipt of unemployment assistance.
The proportionate share of the amount available has already been allocated to Counties Laoighis and Offaly, and I have no further funds at my disposal from which additional grants could be sanctioned.
In view of the very large numbers of unemployed signing on at the local office in Portlaoise, which yesterday and the day before had to be controlled by the Garda Síochána, will the Parliamentary Secretary make a special effort to see that money will be made available and sent down to the local authorities for the purpose of giving these people employment? Further, is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that a similar position exists in Birr, Tullamore, Edenderry and Rathdowney? Will be make a special effort to see that funds are provided by some means to put these people at work with the least possible delay? In view of the fact that the Office of Public Works has a number of applications for bog development schemes, rural improvement schemes and other schemes from the constituency of Laoighis-Offaly, which have not yet been reached, will money be provided for these schemes so as to enable them to be put into operation?
As indicated in my reply, a proportionate share of the Estimate that was presented to this House last year has been made available and, as far as Laoighis-Offaly is concerned, both counties have got their proportionate share of that. This allocation was based on the census of the unemployment position, on the number of persons in receipt of unemployment assistance in January, 1951.