asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to the statements made at the meeting of the Leitrim Board of Health as appearing in the Press that only members of the Cumann na nGaedheal organisation can obtain work under the Relief Scheme in that country; that able-bodied men who are in receipt of home help from the Leitrim Board of Health have been refused employment on those schemes; whether he will inquire into these statements, and, if found to be true, take steps to ensure impartial administration of such relief funds.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - EMPLOYMENT UNDER RELIEF SCHEME IN CO. LEITRIM.
MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT and PUBLIC HEALTH (Mr. Burke) (for Minister for Lands and Agriculture)
The local inspectors in charge of all relief works under the supervision of the Land Commission have had instructions since the beginning of the works to be most careful that in carrying them out they should avoid the giving of any grounds for a suggestion of preference to any particular party or body, and the Land Commission is not aware of any case in which these instructions have not been adhered to. As to the statement that able-bodied men who are in receipt of home assistance from the Leitrim Board of Health have been refused employment on these schemes, the Commissioners have no information that men in receipt of home assistance have been refused work, but inquiries are being made and instructions have been issued that applicants of that type should receive special consideration.
Has the Minister for Local Government and Public Health received any report on this matter?
He has not.
Will the Minister answer the first part of the question? Was his attention drawn to the statement in the Press? Did he make any inquiries? If his attention was drawn to the matter, has he any report to make upon it?
No.
Did the Minister see the report of the County Leitrim Board of Health in the Press?
It was not officially brought to his notice.
Did the Minister see the statements that were made at the meeting? If he did, was any action taken to ascertain whether or not the statements were correct?
The Minister is not here to indicate whether or not the statements were brought to his notice. Officially, the Minister had no notice of them.
If the attention of the Minister for Local Government and Public Health is specifically drawn to the statements, will he take any action towards removing the evil complained of?
Yes, if the evil, in fact, exists.
Will the Minister make inquiries as to the truth of the statements made regarding the Cumann na nGaedheal organisation and the matter of obtaining work under the Relief Scheme in County Leitrim?
The Minister has stated that inquiries are being made. On whose representation are these inquiries being made? How has the matter arisen? Is it on this question?
Can the Minister say how many able-bodied men, if any, are getting home help in County Leitrim?
Will the Minister for Local Government and Public Health get a report from the Commissioner in County Leitrim on the subject?
I will see about that.