asked the Taoiseach if his attention has been directed to the serious unemployment situation in Mallow town and vicinity at the present time; and if he will take action to have the problem alleviated at the earliest possible date.
2.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment in Mallow Area.
1.
asked the Taoiseach if he has received a copy of a resolution passed recently at a meeting of the Mallow Urban Council on the alarming number of unemployed persons in Mallow town; and, if so, what action he intends to take on this matter.
With the permission of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
I have received a copy of the resolution referred to in Question No. 2, which relates to industrial grants for Mallow. As the House is aware, the Industrial Grants Act, 1959, enables An Foras Tionscal to make substantial grants in aid of industrial development in areas to which the Undeveloped Areas Acts, 1952 and 1957, do not apply.
Full consideration will be given by An Foras Tionscal to any application for assistance, in accordance with the provisions of the Industrial Grants Act, that may be made in respect of any industrial enterprise proposed to be established in the Mallow area.
As the Deputies are no doubt aware, there is in the Mallow district a good deal of seasonal employment in agriculture and in the Beet Factory. Unemployment in the district is normally at its peak in January when agricultural employment is at a minimum and the beet campaign has finished. During January of this year, the weekly Live Register totals at Mallow Branch Employment Office have been from 35 to 155 lower than at the corresponding dates last year. The Branch Employment Office records indicate that from the beginning of February there is a progressive decline in the Live Register as more work becomes available on farms. So far this year a similar reduction has been shown, the Live Register total on 13th instant being 58 lower than on 30th January.