asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he can state the amount paid in wages in Dublin out of the £150,000 grant for the relief of the unemployed; and whether it is proposed to continue the relief schemes.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - DUBLIN RELIEF GRANT.
The grant of £20,000 allocated to the Commissioners for the County Borough was spent on wages. As regards the latter part of the question, I would refer the Deputy to the reply to his question to the Minister for Finance on the 29th March.
Might I ask the Minister if he is aware that the answer given on the 29th March held out hope that the men registered for relief work would get their turn? Is the Minister aware that no new men have been taken on on relief work in Dublin since the 7th March, and will he see, in view of the poverty existing, that these men get their turn? Further, does he think that £20,000 out of such a huge grant is sufficient to provide employment for the 8,000 men who are signed on at the Dublin Labour Exchange?
I understand that the City Commissioners are carrying on, out of their own funds, some of the works initiated when the grant was given. I will ask the Minister for Local Government whether there are any representations that he can make on the matter.
Mr. BYRNE
Can the Minister hold out any hope that the number of men registered since the last question was answered will get a call in the near future?
In the absence of the Minister for Local Government I could not give a specific answer to the Deputy.
Mr. BYRNE
Will the Minister impress on the authorities in charge of relief works, and who are issuing relief generally, the necessity of dealing with the poverty in Dublin? Charitable institutions are doing the work which under Section 13 of the Poor Law Act should be done by the relief authorities, and are heavily in debt in consequence. Would the Minister bring these questions to the attention of the Minister for Local Government?
I will draw the attention of the Minister to them.