andMr. Wilson asked the Minister for Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a major concern serving the road development programme and the building industry had to lay off 250 workers because of lack of activity in the industry; and the action he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Building Industry Workers.
20.
I am aware of the announcement made by the company and I have explained my Department's position to representatives of the employees. I have already increased Road Fund grant allocations to £26.57 million for this year, approximately 30 per cent over the amount for 1976.
As to the building industry generally, output in 1976 increased by an estimated 4 per cent in real terms compared with 1975 and present indications are that further growth in real terms will be achieved this year. The provision of just over £467 million for public capital and current expenditure affecting the building industry in 1977 represents an increase of 19 per cent on the estimated expenditure for 1976.
In view of the Government's commitment to job creation does the Minister not accept that he should take action immediately to retain those jobs in labour intensive industries? Does he not agree that the redundancies are a direct result of his reduction in the allocation of money for national primary and national secondary roads over the last few years? Would he not agree that in that area where some of those quarries operate, especially in the Cavan-Monaghan region, they received more money for national primary and national secondary roads in 1972-73 than the total amounts received for the four years under the National Coalition?
The Deputy is aware that he is entirely incorrect. I am surprised at a Deputy coming into the House and making a statement he knows to be incorrect. If he knows anything about road expenditure he must know that his statement is incorrect.
For national primary and national secondary roads we never got one penny in 1976.
The position about national primary and national secondary roads is that we do not spend money on a system of making new roads where roads have already been made. The Deputy is mixing things up to suit himself when he talks about money not being expended. Does the Deputy expect that the money which was expended doing certain roads should be expended there even though the job on the roads has finished? Does he expect that such work should be continued although the jobs on the roads concerned have concluded?
Will the Minister indicate where those jobs have been completed?
The money was expended on jobs and when those jobs were finished the money could not be spent again re-doing the same jobs. In the last three years money has been given to local authorities under the heading of "Block Grant" and it showed a substantial increase on previous years. The result is that the local authorities are entitled to spend that anywhere they feel it should be spent. If the most important area in their district is not a national primary or national secondary that is their judgement. If the Deputy wishes to take this matter further he should go back to the county council and ask them about it.
Does the Minister realise that as far as the companies supplying the building industry in the Border areas are concerned they are in a particularly difficult position because machinery, transport and oil are cheaper in the Six Counties? Does he further realise that a great deal of material is being brought into the Donegal/Cavan/Monaghan/Louth area without paying value-added tax?
As the Deputy is aware, we are in the EEC and so are the Six Counties. Therefore, the action which could normally be taken against those firms for bringing goods across the Border can no longer be taken. If the Deputy has evidence that firms are importing certain materials on which they should pay value-added tax and are not paying it, he should not report them to me. There is another way of dealing with this matter and I suggest the Deputy take it up.
Realising that there are about 400 jobs in various firms in the Border counties involved, would the Minister undertake to pay the same rate of subsidy to the people involved in this business as they do in the Six Counties?
The Deputy is raising another matter.
The Deputy is talking through his hat.
The Deputy is not talking through his hat; he is trying to save jobs and will not be bullied by the Minister.
I am surprised that Deputy Wilson does not understand the basic economics——
I may not have the Minister's superior intelligence but I know——
(Interruptions.)
Order.
The so-called champion of the workers should understand——
For many years I was an official representing the workers in Deputy Wilson's area. At that time, Deputy Wilson was not heard of because he had other things to do. He had no time——
(Interruptions.)
Order.
The job he was doing did not affect the ordinary workers' wages.
I am calling Question No. 21.
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply, I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I will be glad to deal with Deputy Wilson on the Adjournment.