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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 6 Nov 1929

Vol. 32 No. 6

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - The Unemployment Problem.

asked the President whether, in view of the approach of winter, he will state what steps the Government propose to take to deal with the unemployment problem.

From the information at my disposal, I can say that the unemployment position has substantially improved during the past year. On the 5th November, 1928, there were 22,087 persons registered as unemployed at the local offices of the Department of Industry and Commerce. The latest available figure is that of the 7th October, 1929, on which date there were 19,463 persons so registered as unemployed. The reduction in the number of emigrants is a healthy sign. During the first nine months of 1928, 20,413 persons emigrated from Saorstát Eireann, while during the corresponding period of the present year, the number of emigrants was 16,797, a decrease of 3,616.

As I explained to the Dáil on the 3rd July last, large sums of public money are annually expended on services which, either directly or indirectly, promote employment. The Estimates for Supply Services for the current year show very substantial provision for services of the kind mentioned. The Commissioners of Public Works will spend £358,940 on new works, buildings, alterations and additions, and £54,000 on drainage. There is provision for a grant to the Local Loans Fund of £142,000, but the fund itself will provide £407,000 in the current year for land improvement, drainage, and public health schemes, all of which promote employment. The beet sugar subsidy of £108,334 will undoubtedly prove a factor in relieving unemployment in the beet growing area. There is provision in the Vote for Local Government and Public Health of £241,575 for housing grants, £161,650 will be spent by the Land Commission in improvement of estates, and £43,000 is earmarked for afforestation schemes. The expenditure on fisheries and rural industries may also be mentioned as contributing to the relief of unemployment. Apart from supply services, the capital expenditure on the Shannon construction works and the operations of the Electricity Supply Board is estimated in the current year to amount to £1,934,350. A sum of £600,000 has been placed at the disposal of local authorities from the Road Fund for works during the current financial year, and employment on the roads is up to the average of previous years. There has been an increase in the extent of public health works embarked on by local authorities. and housing schemes estimated to cost approximately £500,000 have been undertaken.

The programme of legislation for the present session includes a Bill which provides £250,000 for grants and loans for the construction and repair of houses and outhouses in the Gaeltacht. These schemes will provide useful employment in the area in question.

Instructions have been given to those Government Departments administering expenditure which provides employment to take steps to ensure that the maximum amount of work will be given during the winter period.

Is the President aware that the figures he has submitted of those registered at the unemployment exchanges cannot be taken as a true index of the position in regard to unemployment? The President knows very well that there are many thousands of people who are unemployed but who are not registered at the unemployment exchanges. Again, I do not think what the President has said with regard to emigration is altogether correct, because the President must know that in many areas people are only waiting to get sufficient money to emigrate, owing to the fact that they cannot get employment at home. The President has also stated the steps which the Government propose taking to relieve unemployment, but I suggest to him that some step should be taken prior to Christmas with a view to absorbing some of the unemployed, because the President, and every member of the House, knows very well that great poverty and hardship exist throughout the country owing to the state of unemployment. I suggest, therefore, that the Government should take immediate steps to get started some of these works which the President has enumerated.

Is the President in a position to state whether the reduction of the number registered at the unemployment exchanges is due to the exhaustion of benefits or to the securing of employment by those who were registered, and, further, whether the Government have taken into consideration the fact that hundreds of men are being let go owing to the completion of the works on the Shannon scheme; that by the end of the year practically all those who were in employment there during the last year will be unemployed, and whether any steps are being taken to secure employment for these men?

Would the President also give the House some figures to show the amounts already expended out of the various sums which he has enumerated to the House as being available for the relief of unemployment?

Has the President any information as to the cause of the reduction in emigration? Is it a fact that the number of people who have been refused visas by the American Consul here on account of physical disabilities has increased, and also the number of people under age?

Various Deputies have committed themselves to an interpretation of my statement which the statement did not permit of. The taking of the number of persons registered as a barometer and comparing it with last year's number was the only extent to which any use was made of that particular figure. I did not say that the registration of persons unemployed exhausted the whole list; I compared the list of persons entitled to be registered with the same list for last year. The same answer might be given to the irrelevant question which Deputy Aiken put to me. It leads me to believe that he does not understand what I said. There are fewer persons going to America. Apparently, there was some addition to the number of persons available for employment this year over last, allowing for the smaller number of emigrants. If we had the same number as last year there would be employment, presumably, provided they were employable, for these 3,616, or they would have to be dealt with in one way or another. The question he raised was another question. By reason of the fact that 3,616 fewer persons left the country last year, having regard to the normal supply, I would point out that employment had been found for the additional number. So far as Deputy Morrissey's question is concerned I believe that a Supplementary Vote will shortly be introduced —certainly before the end of the financial year—to provide an additional sum for the Unemployment Insurance Fund, a clear indication that the number of persons employed is greater than the number which was anticipated when the Estimate was compiled.

Can the President give the House the information which I believe he has, namely, what percentage of the amount which he has given in millions to the House as being set aside for the relief of unemployment has already been expended in the seven months of the present financial year?

That question was not put to me, and really I think that the Deputy is drawing a little bit on his imagination if he believes that I could anticipate all the questions that would arise out of this. I will endeavour to have that question answered if the Deputy will give me notice of it.

What is the use of telling the House that a Bill is going to be introduced in the near future to provide for the expenditure of £250,000 when the President knows that it will not be spent in the present financial year?

Will the President endeavour to expedite work in connection with those schemes he has mentioned, because if he would do so the work could be started soon?

That is the most sensible question I have been asked.

The President alluded to the emigration of the previous year as being normal. Does he look upon it as normal, and does he want a similar number to leave the country every year? Further, what data has he to go upon to prove to the House that the reduction in the number of emigrants is accounted for by increased employment? Would it not be more probable that the reduction in the number of emigrants is caused by the fact that a fewer number of people have the money to buy their tickets, and also that the type of people who offer themselves for emigration is not up to the same standard as previously? I think before he makes the statement that the reduction in emigration is accounted for by increased employment he should at least examine the figures that were given the other day by the American Consul when he stated that——

I let Deputy Cassidy make a speech but I cannot allow——

Of course, Deputy Aiken is on a raw spot now.

The President referred to the Vote for the improvement of estates. Is he aware that that has been cut down by several thousand pounds this year, and will he come to the House for a Supplementary Estimate? He must be aware that that Vote will permit of very little work being done.

I would ask Deputies to consider the answers which I have given to the question. I said nothing about normal emigration. I can assure Deputy Aiken of that, and I would ask him to come down from his abnormalities to normal circumstances. With regard to the question put by Deputy Murphy, I mentioned the sum for this year. If a Supplementary Estimate be necessary it will be brought in. I only mentioned what was in the Estimate for the current year.

Is the President aware that there is a demonstration of the unemployed——

Splendidly staged. I am aware of that.

He has been asked, or some Minister has been asked, to receive a Deputation——

I have not.

Would it not be advisable to do so, to avoid a possible disturbance?

I would not advise a possible disturbance either.

The Minister for Local Government has been asked to receive a Deputation.

Certainly not.

I am so informed.

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