andMr. H.P. Dockrellasked the Minister for Local Government if he has been requested by the Dún Laoghaire Corporation to sanction payment of grants for the purpose of carrying out certain works, including road works; and, if so, whether in view of the large number of men at present registering at the Dún Laoghaire employment exchange he will sanction the grants so that employment may be provided immediately.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dún Laoghaire Corporation Works.
As regards road works, the Dún Laoghaire Corporation were informed on 28th August last that grants will be available to enable them to carry out over a period of years a comprehensive programme of road improvement works. Two schemes from that programme for which detailed documents had been submitted were approved at an estimated cost of £21,362. Documents were submitted recently for a further scheme and are being examined at present; there will be no avoidable delay in their examination and a grant will be made available for the scheme when it is in order.
Two schemes estimated to cost £5,000 towards which a grant of £3,750 from the Employment and Emergency Schemes Vote is being made available were approved on 10th September. The corporation inquired on 30th September whether further grants from the Employment and Emergency Schemes Vote would be available for four works estimated to cost £12,040. Examination of these proposals reveals that one, estimated to cost £3,390, was rejected last year on technical grounds and is still unsuitable, and that another, estimated to cost £5,000, is dependent on the necessary land being acquired. It is hoped to issue a decision shortly on the other proposals.
Two schemes under the Local Authorities (Works) Act have been submitted at an estimated cost of £7,500. It is not possible to allocate a grant for these schemes at present.
In view of the number of persons at present registering, would the Minister endeavour to have a decision conveyed to the local authority in sufficient time to enable employment to be provided before Christmas?
According to my information the number of those registered this year is in or around the same figure as last year. We have intimated our willingness to approve a large body of work provided everything is found to be in order on examination. In the course of that examination no avoidable delay will take place as far as we are concerned.
How long will the examination take?
We only received the most recent documents on the 10th November. In relation to a proposal costing £45,000 one cannot say it is unreasonable to have these documents since the 10th ultimo.
Have we the Minister's assurance that sanction will be expedited?
I do not know. The Deputy can take it there will be no avoidable delay.