asked the President whether the Government have any schemes in hands for the providing of work for the unemployed of the City of Dublin, and, if so, whether he will announce them to the Dáil before the Summer Recess.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - SCHEMES FOR DUBLIN UNEMPLOYED.
A sum of £75,000 has been allocated to the Commissioners of the Dublin County Borough for road work, and of this amount a scheme for the expenditure of £22,000 is in operation at Fairview, giving employment to sixty men. Schemes for the expenditure of the remainder of the grant which have been received are under consideration, and it is hoped that work will be started at an early date. It is estimated that the total road grant for Dublin will give employment to 300 men for a period of six months.
A grant for £35,000 is now available for relief schemes in Dublin, and details of these schemes will be prepared as expeditiously as possible.
The Commissioners of the Borough have been allocated the sum of £462,848 for the building of nine hundred and twenty-six houses in the city, and eight contractors are concerned. Work is in progress in three centres, and, as the Deputy is aware, housing is being delayed at Marino owing to an unfortunate labour dispute. This matter is having close attention.
The awards for compensation claims up to the 8th instant in respect of destruction in O'Connell Street total over £413,000, of which £300,000 is in respect of rebuilding. Clearing operations at the sites are in progress in four cases; building has begun in two further cases, and plans have been lodged with the municipal authorities in four other cases.
Will the Minister consider the desirability of having the sites of the Four Courts and the Custom House cleared? That would give a considerable amount of employment.
I do not think that arises out of the question. It would form the subject for another question. I do not think there is anything in the Appropriation Account for that purpose this year.
Mr. BYRNE
The question was asked frequently, and was promised consideration.