Vol. 368 No. 4
It is proposed to take Business in the following order: Nos.30 and 9 and the Supplementary Estimate to which No. 9 relates.
By agreement, No.30 and the Supplementary Estimate shall be taken together for the purposes of debate.
Also by agreement, the proceedings on No. 30 and the Supplementary Estimate, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 4 p.m. today and the Minister for Social Welfare shall be called on to conclude not later than 3.45 p.m. today.
Are the arrangements for today's Business agreed?
Not necessarily, Sir. Before agreeing to the Order of Business, I should like to have some information about this Supplementary Estimate, No. 9. We have no information whatever about it.
As I explained yesterday to Deputy McCarthy when I notified him about the Supplementary Estimate and obtained his agreement for it, the Supplementary Estimate is in relation to pilot schemes for the unemployed which I am considering at the moment and which have not been finalised. The question of taking the Supplementary Estimate with my own Estimate arises because the House will rise soon and I do not want to have any possible initiative delayed as late as October if we decide to go ahead with some pilot schemes. I explained this to Deputy McCarthy and I was most appreciative of his agreement to take it today.
I still do not know the amount of the Supplementary Estimate. I would like to have some information as to why employment schemes are being introduced by the Department of Social Welfare. It seems to me that Department have a very specific function and, while all of us welcome any schemes to alleviate the permanent mass unemployment that exists at present, I am not clear why the Department of Social Welfare should introduce measures of this kind.
The proposition before the House at the moment merely seeks authority to circulate and take the Supplementary Estimate. It can then be discussed immediately.
I should like to know the amount of the Supplementary Estimate. I know we have a slap-happy way of doing business but at least we should know the amount of the Supplementary Estimate. Is it £1 million or £10 million?
It is a token Estimate of £1,000.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
