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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 31 Oct 1956

Vol. 160 No. 4

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Relief Schemes.

asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the amount allocated to each local authority for winter relief schemes in the current financial year and in the financial years 1953-54, 1954-55 and 1955-56; and if, in view of the present grave unemployment position, he will state the reasons for the substantial reductions in the allocations for the current financial year.

The information in the first part of the question is in the form of tabular statements which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate in the Official Report. The reasons for the reductions in the allocations for the current financial year are twofold: (a) the necessity in present financial circumstances of limiting public expenditure, and (b) the large carry-forward on the 1st April, 1956, of unexpended grants, amounting to £285,104, which are available for expenditure in the current year.

The following is the statement:—

(a) URBAN EMPLOYMENT SCHEMES.

GRANTS ALLOCATED TO VARIOUS URBAN DISTRICTS AND COUNTY BOROUGHS.

1956/57

1955/56

1954/55

1953/54

URBAN DISTRICT:

£

£

£

£

Carlow

450

1,000

1,150

950

Cavan

300

600

1,200

1,300

Ennis

450

1,400

1,500

1,950

Kilrush

500

1,150

900

1,200

Clonakilty

250

400

400

550

Cobh

400

1,000

1,400

1,950

Fermoy

350

750

700

850

Kinsale

300

650

700

650

Macroom

250

350

300

300

Mallow

300

500

600

900

Midleton

250

300

400

450

Skibbereen

300

600

500

700

Youghal

300

700

1,150

1,300

Buncrana

500

1,300

650

900

Bundoran

300

450

450

500

Letterkenny

350

800

900

900

Dun Laoire

2,500

7,000

8,250

8,750

Ballinasloe

300

900

600

1,100

Galway

1,150

3,700

4,600

4,550

Killarney

450

800

1,000

1,300

Listowel

400

700

1,300

1,300

Tralee

2,650

6,000

6,300

5,100

Athy

250

250

350

400

Naas

300

350

350

400

Kilkenny

900

2,200

3,000

2,900

Longford

350

1,250

1,000

1,000

Drogheda

1,500

5,400

5,600

6,200

Dundalk

1,650

5,500

6,100

7,550

Ballina

650

1,650

2,150

2,250

Castlebar

250

250

300

300

Westport

300

500

750

900

An Uaimh

300

550

800

700

Ceannanus Mor

250

550

650

800

Trim

250

250

350

350

Carrickmacross

250

250

300

900

Castleblayney

300

450

450

600

Clones

300

450

600

850

Monaghan

250

300

400

350

Birr

300

300

600

750

Tullamore

250

250

650

900

Sligo

1,600

4,750

5,300

3,000

Nenagh

400

1,100

1,400

1,750

Templemore

250

300

300

300

Thurles

300

350

600

750

Carrick-on-Suir

450

900

1,150

1,250

Cashel

250

450

600

850

Clonmel

1,000

1,900

2,450

2,650

Tipperary

550

1,900

1,750

2,450

Dungarvan

500

1,300

1,000

1,250

Athlone

700

1,600

1,700

1,850

Enniscorthy

550

1,900

2,150

2,200

New Ross

550

1,100

1,700

1,500

Wexford

2,150

4,800

5,400

4,700

Arklow

450

900

1,000

1,400

Bray

800

2,300

2,750

3,550

Wicklow

400

800

900

1,050

TOTALS (Urban Districts)

32,500

78,100

89,500

96,050

COUNTY BOROUGHS:

Cork

7,500

30,000

33,000

35,000

Dublin

Not Determined

175,000

200,000

260,000

Limerick

6,500

20,000

24,500

26,000

Waterford

3,500

9,000

13,000

14,000

TOTALS (County Boroughs)

17,500

234,000

270,500

335,000

ALL AREAS: TOTALS

50,000(excluding Dublin)

312,100

360,000

431,050

(b) RURAL EMPLOYMENT SCHEMES.

GRANTS ALLOCATED TO VARIOUS COUNTY COUNCILS.

County

1956/57

1955/56

1954/55

1953/54

£

£

£

£

Carlow

250

Cavan

250

1,250

1,750

1,250

Clare

420

1,500

1,500

927

Cork, North

550

250

Cork, South

250

700

700

1,000

Cork, West

1,750

2,250

250

Donegal

700

15,500

15,000

14,500

Dublin

900

300

Galway

1,380

7,500

7,082

8,000

Kerry

500

7,000

7,000

6,250

Laoighis

300

250

Leitrim

2,750

2,850

2,500

Limerick

250

800

1,250

300

Longford

250

550

900

1,000

Mayo

250

13,500

12,000

12,000

Offaly

250

250

Roscommon

250

1,250

1,050

250

Sligo

2,500

2,500

2,500

Tipperary, N.R.

250

Waterford

250

Westmeath

250

300

250

250

Wexford

250

300

500

250

TOTALS

5,000

58,850

58,182

51,727

Would the Parliamentary Secretary state if it is now the policy of the Government to limit expenditure at the cost of employment?

That is what you are saying. If the people believe you, they are fools.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary indicate whether these cuts in relief scheme grants are uniform all over the counties or pro rata to the amount last year?

What cuts?

The cuts you have just admitted.

He does not know what he said.

Could I get a reply, please?

Question No. 23.

Could I get a reply to my supplementary question?

It is not the duty of the Chair to get a reply for the Deputy.

The Parliamentary Secretary should be made give a reply.

He is dying to reply.

You are dying to tell me.

asked the Minister for Finance if he will state in respect of Roscommon County Council the amount allocated for winter relief schemes in the last and current financial years, respectively.

The total allocation for winter employment schemes in County Roscommon in 1955-56 was £4,535 of which £1,250 was allocated to the county council. The corresponding figures for the current financial year are £3,070 and £250 respectively.

In view of the big reduction that has taken place in this grant, would the Parliamentary Secretary explain what he means by stating that this reduction of the grant is for the necessity of limiting public expenditure when the Taoiseach has already stated that Government policy is to secure a lasting reduction in unemployment?

Hear, hear!

Is this lasting reduction in unemployment to be secured by a mounting rate of emigration forced by a reduction in Government grants to needy families all over Ireland?

Productive work.

Is it Government policy now, during the Christmas period, to force the breadwinners in needy families to emigrate as a result of the reduction in the grants which has taken place, according to the Parliamentary Secretary?

It is not.

These unfortunate people can take a holiday, no doubt.

I think that is a scandalous state of affairs.

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