asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware that part-time workers employed by Roscommon County Council on various projects are not being employed this year due to lack of finance and that these workers are mainly small farmers who will lose their entitlement to unemployment benefit; if he will make money available to the local authority to keep these people employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Roscommon County Council Employment.
34.
Decisions as to the employment of part-time workers as referred to by the Deputy are made by individual local authorities having regard to all the relevant circumstances. The funds available to my Department for grants to local authorities for works on roads, local improvement schemes, environmental improvement schemes etc. have been allocated in full. In the circumstances I regret that there are no funds at my disposal from which I could make additional allocations.