asked the Minister for the Environment, in view of the proposed redundancy next week of 200 employees of Dublin Corporation involved in environmental improvement schemes as a result of a 50 per cent cutback in the financial allocation from his Department, if he will make immediate provision for extra money to be allocated to Dublin City Council having regard to the already high levels of unemployment in the Dublin area and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Private Notice Question. - Dublin Corporation Employees.
The total available to me for allocation for environmental improvement schemes this year, based on the provision of £1.5 million in the Vote for my Department and £1.7 million from the Employment Guarantee Fund, amounts to approximately £3.2 millions. Of this a sum of £680,000 was allocated to Dublin Corporation, which represents a high proportion of the total available for the country as a whole and is by far the biggest single allocation to any area.
It is for the local authority to decide on the best use to make of the allocation during the year.
There are no further funds available to me for allocation.
When did the Minister inform Dublin Corporation officials of the allocation for this year?
On 11 April.
Would the Minister not consider that it is the height of irresponsibility to allow over three months of the current financial year to proceed before informing the local authority of the 50 per cent cutback? Does he not consider that the cost to his colleague, the Minister for Social Welfare, in terms of pay-related benefits will far offset any benefits obtained by the Minister for Finance in reducing the amount of money this year?
I would point out that these schemes were started after 1977 and were never regarded as permanent scheme. Dublin Corporation should not have regarded them as such.
(Interruptions.)
The Deputy speaks about a cutback. Last year the original allocation was £649,000 and there was a further supplementary of £129,000, but there was a special once-off allocation for the inner city of £500,000. By comparison, excluding the £500,000, the allocation is not so far back this year. Dublin has received a high proportion of the total amount available for this purpose this year.
Would the Minister not agree that the allocation this year is precisely 200 jobs far back from last year?
The first I heard about the 200 jobs was after last night's meeting. We have heard nothing in the Department from the corporation regarding 200 jobs.
In view of the gravity of this matter, I wish, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
May I take it from the Minister's reply that the £500,000 made available to Dublin Corporation in 1979 specifically for the inner city is not to be repeated in 1980?
It was a special allocation made last year for the inner city. There is an inner city fund as well which is being examined at present with a view to making the best use of it. There are no further funds available to me at present.
(Interruptions.)
These matters do not arise on the Private Notice Question.
I wish to raise on the adjournment the High Court decision regarding rents and security of tenancy.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to know why the Ceann Comhairle disallowed my Private Notice Question on this matter in view of its seriousness.
The Deputy should call to see me. The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.