asked the Taoiseach if he will state if any proposals are being made to bring about a reduction in the growing unemployment in the city of Dublin; and, if so, the nature of such proposals.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Unemployment.
The Deputy will be glad to learn that unemployment in the City of Dublin is not, at the moment, growing; it is, in fact, now declining: the number of persons on the live register of unemployed at the Dublin employment exchanges for the latest available date, that is, the 9th instant, is the lowest since the Social Welfare Act, 1952, came into operation in the second week of this year.
On the general question of the Government's policy on the matter, I would invite the Deputy's attention to my reply to two questions in this House on the 4th February last, in the course of which I stated that it is a fundamental aim of the Government's economic and social policy to create conditions favourable for employment and that, in addition, the Government endeavour, within the limited sphere available to them, to provide employment on constructive works to the extent permitted by the resources of the community.
So far as building works the expenditure on which is wholly on largely borne on State funds are concerned, such as schools and State buildings, the estimated cost of works actually in progress or expected to commence within the next three months or so in the Dublin area is £1,218,000, as compared with a corresponding figure of £707,000 for last year.
As regards housing schemes—towards the cost of which, as the Deputy will be aware, the State makes substantial contributions—it is anticipated that, asa result of action taken in recent months by the Minister for Local Government and the Dublin Corporation, an early improvement in the employment position on corporation housing schemes will take place. During the past ten weeks, for example, sanction has been given by the Minister for the acceptance of tenders for 1,635 new dwellings—houses and flats—work on which should now be commencing. It is understood that the corporation hope to be in a position to advertise further schemes involving 354 new dwellings within the next three months and to put out to tender schemes involving an additional 324 flats before the end of the year. It is also hoped to start development work on sites for about 1,000 new houses within the next three or four months.
In addition, funds are provided by the State, from the Vote for Employment and Emergency Schemes, for the purpose of assisting in giving employment to men in receipt of unemployment assistance. As the Deputy has a question, in relation to the City of Dublin, addressed to the Minister for Finance on to-day's Order Paper on this particular matter, I would refer him to the reply which he will receive from the Minister.
Finally, as regards industrial development by private enterprise, the Minister for Industry and Commerce has at present before him 33 proposals which, on the information so far available, seem likely to lead to the development of new industries or the extension of existing industries in Dublin City and County.
Mr. A. Byrne
The Parliamentary Secretary must be aware that his reply will give no comfort to the thousands who are now unemployed in the City of Dublin.
It should.
Mr. A. Byrne
There are thousands unemployed who are not engaged in the trades mentioned by the Parliamentary Secretary and there are thousands emigrating.
What question is the Deputy asking?
Mr. A. Byrne
I am asking whether the Parliamentary Secretary will give any hope to those people engaged in other types of work outside the building trade? Will the Government do something to relieve the pressure on them at the moment? Thousands are living on unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance which the Government has refused to increase. The unemployment position is deplorable.
The Deputy is making a speech.
Mr. A. Byrne
Judging from the complacency of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, one would think that everything in the garden was lovely.
The unemployment figures have gone down in Dublin.
Mr. A. Byrne
There are people in Dublin at the moment who are suffering very grave hardships.