asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that a large amount of unemployment exists in Malahide, Swords, Donabate, Rush, Lusk, Skerries, Balbriggan, Naul, Oldtown and Garristown, and whether he is prepared to allocate a sum from the Unemployment Relief Vote in order to give much needed employment in those districts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment in North County Dublin.
I am not aware that abnormal unemployment exists in the areas specified by the Deputy. These districts will, however, be duly considered in connection with the allocation of relief funds towards works submitted by the local authority and approved by the Department.
That is an extraordinary statement made by the Parliamentary Secretary. Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that no part of the Relief Grant of £150,000 recently voted by this House has been allocated to the districts mentioned in the question and that his own return shows that on 31st March, 1932, 781 children were receiving home help in the districts mentioned, leaving out able-bodied persons? His own return to the Board of Assistance received at 11 Parnell Square this day week showed that 781 children in the towns mentioned are receiving home help and he says that he is not aware that abnormal unemployment exists. (Deputies: "Speech"). I am only asking that out of the £150,000 voted this area of Fingal will receive some help in the near future.
I am not unaware of some of the points made in the course of the Deputy's speech, but unfortunately the conditions referred to by the Deputy in his speech are not abnormal conditions in this country.
In reply I should like to say that the return for the September quarter shows that there were only 332 children and the return for the March quarter that there were 781.