asked the President if he will expedite the payment of monies allocated to the various counties in connection with the unemployment grants available for road work, so that the great distress at present prevailing may be relieved as speedily as possible, and if he will expedite in particular the payment of the monies allocated to the counties of Westmeath and Longford, which have complied with the wage regulations as laid out in the scheme to permit the county councils' surveyors being authorised to start the work at once.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - PAYMENT OF UNEMPLOYMENT GRANTS.
Mr. O'HIGGINS (replying for the President)
It is hoped to notify each County Council within the next few days of the amount allocated to them for the improvement of trunk roads. It will then be for the Councils to submit, without delay, suitable schemes subject to the conditions laid down. Immediately the schemes are approved, and if the Councils have complied with the conditions governing the schemes, advances will be made from the grant to enable work to be started.
No regulations regarding wages in connection with the large grants about to be notified have yet been officially circulated, and we have no definite information as to the wages which will be agreed upon by the County Councils of Westmeath and Longford. Once the scheme is set going the expediting of payments is altogether in the hands of the Councils concerned.
Arising out of that answer, is the Minister aware that certain County Councils have been informed already of the amount of money that has been allocated to them, and that the North County Tipperary County Council has already sent in its scheme as far back as three weeks ago, and that they are ready to start work, and that they are only waiting to receive the money?
Is the Minister aware that the Westmeath County Council has been allocated £23,000 as a first instalment, and that they have submitted their scheme?
Might I ask the Minister if this grant is derived from such source of revenue as motor taxation, and if so, what authority has he for withholding this money from the Councils?
That is a separate question.
I suggest that it arises from the question, in view of the fact that this is derived from motor taxation.
It does not.