To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to a statement of the Chairman of Dublin Port and Docks Board, published in the evening papers on Thursday, October 12th, to the effect that the withdrawal or discontinuance of Government grants would stop the Board's improvement schemes, and that 300 men would be thrown out of employment; if he is aware that valuable remunerative port improvements, including the providing of a deep water berthage, were in hands and in the course of construction; if he will now take steps to prevent the dismissal of the 300 men mentioned by the Chairman, and reconsider the application for the continuance of the Government grant first issued by the Lord St. David's Committee.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. - DUBLIN PORT AND DOCKS BOARD—QUESTION OF GRANTS.
AILFRID O BROIN
MINISTER for FINANCE
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In connection with the improvement scheme of the Dublin Port and Docks Board, the Government have already provided £18,500 towards the relief of unemployment. In view of the general financial position, I regret that it is not possible to provide further funds at the rate at which they have hitherto been provided for these works by the Government. If, however, any proposals involving the Government in a substantially smaller liability were submitted by the Board I would give them consideration, but I am unable to give any undertaking in the matter.