asked the Minister for Finance whether in view of the grave unemployment at present obtaining in the Berehaven Peninsula, County Cork he will consider allocating some special grants to provide employment in that area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Berehaven Peninsula Unemployment.
30.
A check on Saturday last shows that there was no change in the number of men registered as unemployed in the Berehaven Peninsula compared with January last when the usual annual census was taken by the Special Employment Schemes Office.
The Berehaven Peninsula has received its full proportionate share of the moneys available from the Employment and Emergency Schemes Vote this winter and I do not, therefore, propose to consider making any special grants available for it.
Is it the Parliamentary Secretary's contention that the Berehaven Peninsula is sufficiently catered for in the matter of employment?
That is not the question I was asked. It is not my contention that such is the case, but I am aware that the unemployment figures in the area have gone down considerably.
I want to ask the Parliamentary Secretary if he is aware that in the Berehaven Peninsula there are in the neighbourhood of 400 men endeavouring to get employment with some continuity and that they are unable to get it. Is he aware that in view of the lack of employment, more hardship is caused to these men and their families in an area where the land is so poor——
The Deputy is making a speech.
I am not making a speech. I am asking a question. Surely, in an area such as that, the people are entitled to some special consideration? I want to know from the Parliamentary Secretary will he consider this matter further and give that area special consideration?
I would be wasting my time. This area has got the exact same treatment as others throughout the State.
What about Limerick?
Surely the Parliamentary Secretary would not compare the Berehaven Peninsula with other areas throughout the country where the conditions are so different?
The Deputy is not asking a question.
I am asking the Parliamentary Secretary is he aware——
That does not cover the Deputy's obvious attempt to make a speech.
I am asking the Parliamentary Secretary if he is aware that in the Berehaven Peninsula 100 per cent. of the holdings are uneconomic and that these people must seek some supplementary way of eking out a livelihood, and that the only way they can do that is through grants for improvement works provided by the Parliamentary Secretary's Department in conjunction with whatever local grants may be available?
The Deputy is in the wrong Department for that.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary treat Berehaven in the same way as he would treat Limerick?
A question like this is very important for us.