asked the Minister for Finance whether the allocation of a Christmas relief grant in respect of a particular area is based on the unemployment figures for that area; and if, in view of the fact that the number of registered unemployed in Bray exceeds that of last year, he has satisfied himself that the grant of £800 to Bray Urban Council is adequate.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bray Christmas Relief Grant.
Grants are not allocated from the Employment and Emergency Schemes Vote specifically for Christmas relief works. The amount of the allocation to each urban area for the annual winter employment schemes programme is governed by the total amount available for the country as a whole, which is apportioned as between one area and another on the basis of the number of unemployment assistance recipients in each area.
The grant of £800 originally allocated to Bray Urban District has since been supplemented by a grant of an equal amount, making a total grant of £1,600 for new schemes for the current year, which, together with £739 outstanding on 1st April, 1956, makes a total for the current year of £2,339.