asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that the number of workers employed on minor employment scheme and rural improvement scheme jobs is, at an average, about six per job; and whether, as this labour content only makes a negligible contribution towards the relief of unemployment, and with a view to giving all unemployed men in a particular locality their due share of work, he is prepared to arrange that, when these schemes are being carried out in future, instructions will be issued either to rotate the men eligible for employment or, alternatively, to step up the number of men employed to a minimum of 12, and so ensure that the maximum labour content is secured.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Minor Employment and Rural Improvement Scheme.
The amounts made available annually for these schemes provide work for only a fraction of the total number of unemployed men. The number of workers actually employed on each scheme is determined primarily by the number that can be economically engaged on the particular scheme. Existing regulations provide for the changing of the panel of workers at the end of each six-weeks period, but it is only in exceptional circumstances that schemes last that long. It would not be practicable to adopt generally the suggestion in the last portion of the question.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that if county councils' central quarries were not used for these jobs, the labour content would be considerably increased?
I think the Deputy is talking about something quite different.
I am referring to the use of the county councils' central quarries for the purpose of providing materials for minor employment schemes which takes away from the labour content when machinery is used for the haulage of material.
I have no information on that aspect of the question but I shall inquire into it.