(Cavan-Monaghan): asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware that men who were laid off by Cavan County Council towards the end of last year have not yet been re-employed because of the shortage of funds; and if he will take steps to remedy this position.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cavan County Council Employment.
12.
I assume the Deputy is referring to a number of casual road workers who were laid off by Cavan County Council in October of last year.
Decisions on the employment of road workers are made by individual local authorities having regard to all relevant circumstances. I have notified substantially increased road grants to Cavan County Council this year and it is a matter for the council to determine the extent to which these grants should be supplemented from other resources at their disposal.
Is the Minister aware that the amount made available to Cavan County Council and to other local authorities is not sufficient to enable them to carry out the work already arranged and to employ the staff necessary? Is he also aware that those he refers to as casual staff are people who have been employed continuously by Cavan County Council for a number of years and were in the main pensionable servants? Will he have another look at the matter and see if something can be done to re-employ these people?
It is a matter for the council, the funds having been made available to them. Looking at the amounts made available I cannot see why Cavan should be so adversely affected. I shall give the Deputy the totals: in 1976, Cavan County Council got a total of £436,000; in 1977, £564,000; in 1978, £848,000; in 1979, £960,000; in 1980, £1,115,000; 1981, £1,401,000.
Is the Minister aware that road materials alone have been increased by over 35 per cent between 1980 and 1981? Is he not aware that local authorities had to pay VAT for the first time in 1981 on road materials and machinery output? Is he not also aware that about 80 per cent of the money allocated to local authorities this year had to be spent on increased costs of material and staff wages and how does he expect any county council to re-employ men laid off through shortage of money last year in those circumstances?
I think the figures I read out are more than adequate to meet any of the increased costs. They have been very generous.