asked the Minister for Education if he has seen reports that Macra na Tuaithe are in financial difficulties; and if, in view of the social and economic importance of this organisation, he will increase the level of State subvention to it.
40.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Macra na Tuaithe.
39.
asked the Minister for Education the action he proposes to take in regard to the financial situation of Macra na Tuaithe.
41.
asked the Minister for Education if he will ensure that no redundancies occur among present full-time workers in Macra na Tuaithe.
42.
asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that the Government grant of £70,000 to Macra na Tuaithe is entirely inadequate; and if he is prepared to make a further substantial grant immediately to prevent the organisation from being forced out of existence.
On 31 January last I received a deputation from Macra na Tuaithe who discussed with me the grant allocated to the organisation for 1978 and its financial requirements for the current year.
It was explained to the deputation that since the financial aid to the organisation is by way of grant-in-aid the amount to be paid in 1978 may not exceed that provided in subhead E of Vote 33. I could not at this stage of the year give any indication as to whether a Supplementary Estimate could be introduced at a later date, or what provision might be feasible in 1979.
I may say, however, that I have a high regard for the work of this organisation and that I shall continue to keep the situation under review.
On a point of clarification, did the Minister take three questions together?
Gabhaim pardún agat. Rinne mé dearmad a rá go bhfuil ceisteanna 39 go 42 á dtógáil le chéile.
Does the Minister regard his soft words of praise for Macra na Tuaithe as an adequate substitute for money in view of the fact that their chairman said in March that there was no possibility they could continue their present level of services to young people and adult leaders if the grant remained at its present level?
The year 1977 marked the first occasion on which the grant to Macra na Tuaithe was not increased and that precedent was set when the Deputy was a member of the Government——
We all know about that.
——and when inflation was much higher.
It is early days for the Minister of State to be taking refuge in what his predecessors did.
(Interruptions.)
Eight hundred and fifty million borrowed pounds to buy votes. Surely it would not kill the Government to give Macra na Tuaithe the additional £30,000 or £40,000 they need to maintain their services at the present level?
Is the Minister saying two wrongs make a right?
I have indicated that it would be my concern if at all possible and at the appropriate time to give to Macra na Tuaithe an increase in accordance with the average increase which has occurred in respect of grants to other organisations. Macra na Tuaithe enjoy a special position in so far as the per capita grants which they got this year represent £7 per head as against amounts ranging from 50p to £2 in respect of other organisations who are as busily engaged in youth organisation as Macra na Tuaithe.
That is a very long answer but in regard to the first part, I understood him to say that he was promising to seek a supplementary Estimate to provide Macra na Tuaithe with the necessary increase. Is that the case?
I did not use the word "promise".
I understood that that was what he was telling the House.
I indicated my concern and said that at the appropriate time and later in the year if at all possible I would be concerned that Macra na Tuaithe might get some increase.
What are Macra na Tuaithe to take out of that reply?
(Cavan-Monaghan): Does the Minister appreciate that there are only a few thousand pounds involved here and that the organisation concerned is a voluntary organisation of young people who are doing excellent work all over the country? They got no increase this year, a year in which the Government say they are giving money here there and all over the place. Would the Minister do the decent thing and give them the extra £27,000 they are asking for to cover the whole country, to have regard to inflation and to enable them to carry on?
The Deputy is making a statement.
(Cavan-Monaghan): No, it is a question. That was all that was involved. The Minister is being mean and miserable saying he will consider it between now and the end of the year.
Deputy Fitzpatrick will accept that the Government to which he belonged created this meanness by not giving any increase in 1977. Have standards of meanness changed with the change of Government?
I thought we were on the crest of the wave.
(Cavan-Monaghan): This is the year when money is available for every wild scheme in the country.
(Interruptions.)
There was no sign of the Coalition's generosity in 1977.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Is this another example of what the Taoiseach said yesterday, that the purse strings are being closed? I ask the Minister not to close them on the children.
I regret that on this occasion it would seem I have followed the very poor precedent set by the Coalition in respect of money payable to Macra na Tuaithe.
(Interruptions.)
Question No. 43 is postponed, and I am calling Question No. 44.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Kenny had a question on the Order Paper.
Does the Minister seriously expect Macra na Tuaithe to maintain their existing standard of work this year with an allocation of £70,000? Does he further agree that no redundancies will occur in the organisation? Surely he could subtract £27,000 from the £86 million to be spent on buildings and give it to that organisation?
I do not doubt Deputy Kenny's interest in Macra na Tuaithe. I would like to reassure him by repeating what I said earlier. Later in the year, at the appropriate time, I will be as anxious as he is to do what I can for Macra na Tuaithe.
Question No. 43 postponed.