asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the serious unemployment problem existing in Avoca, County Wicklow; and if he will endeavour to set on foot some local employment scheme immediately so as to give work to those at present unemployed and to afford them some measure of relief before Christmas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Avoca (Wicklow) Unemployment.
15.
I am aware that unemployment in this area has recently increased because of the closing down of the copper mines, but I regret that it is not possible to allocate any grants from the Employment and Emergency Schemes Vote. The primary aim in the distribution of such grants is to give spells of work to as many as possible of those who have been long unemployed and who are in receipt of unemployment assistance, and all available funds have already been dis- tributed on that basis. The men at present unemployed in the Avoca area are practically all in receipt of unemployment insurance benefit payments and it has never been found practicable to cater specially for that group.
Am I to take it from the Parliamentary Secretary that there is no intention as far as his Department is concerned and as far as any other Department is concerned of organising any type of work in this area before Christmas?
The Deputy will appreciate that a census is taken with regard to this type of work about mid-January.
I appreciate the difficulty. I did suggest to one of the Parliamentary Secretary's colleagues that the matter might be examined in conjunction with the various Government Departments, with a view to seeing if it is possible to make any effort to give employment in the area. Does the Parliamentary Secretary's answer mean that this has not been found practicable?
As far as my Department is concerned, all the money has been allocated.