asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the extreme urgency of providing money for employment in congested areas, sspecially in the west of Ireland, in order to assist the poorer section of the community; and that wholetime employees of local authorities in the west of Ireland may be left off work owing to cessation of minor employment and bog development schemes; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment in Congested Areas.
13.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to his question on 11th October, 1966, on the subject. This year, in order to make increased provision for services essential to the development of the economy, including measures to develop productivity and raise farm and non-farm incomes in the western counties, and in rural areas generally, the provision for a number of services, including the schemes financed from the Employment and Emergency Schemes Vote, has had unavoidably to be reduced. To ensure priority for the most needed works the allocation of grants for minor road and drainage schemes on a purely relief basis has been discontinued and all grants are now being channelled through the contributory rural improvements scheme. Employment at local level has always been casual and short term. Employees of local authorities are not engaged full-time on these schemes.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that all that is left now is the rural improvements scheme and that there will be a long delay before schemes of this nature are even considered? I know that forms are not even being sent out at present. Is the Parliamentary Secretary further aware that in the West there are people who are not going to have one penny for Christmas? I am aware of permanent employees of Sligo County Council who will be laid off work because the minor employment and bog development schemes have been discontinued.
Deputy Gilhawley should be aware of the fact that the number of applications from County Sligo which have been examined and offers made in regard to them have been very small. Indeed, the proportion of acceptances to offers in County Sligo is only about 16 per cent. I am sure the Deputy cannot be unaware of the many measures in last year's Budget which were designed to alleviate the situation in the western counties, and especially in Sligo.