asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce (a) the number of unemployed single men who were registering at the Cork Employment Exchange up to the 1st and 8th instant, (b) the number of married men without dependents whose unemployment assistance has been suspended and the reason for suspension.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Statistics of Unemployment in Cork.
The number of single men registered at Cork Employment Exchange on the 1st and 8th May, 1941, were, respectively, 2,652 and 2,624. No married man without dependants was suspended from the receipt of unemployment assistance in the period from the 1st to the 22nd May, 1941.
The Parliamentary Secretary has not given an answer to the last portion of my question, which asked why there had been a suspension of these men. Has he any reply to that?
That is a burning question.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in the week during which these men were cut off from unemployment assistance, over 1,600 men signed a form for Sunbeam-Wolsey to go out to cut turf at 35/- a week, less the cost of transport, on the bog at Donaghmore, and is he aware that the Cork City Manager has issued a statement to the Cork Corporation, dated 23rd instant, to the effect that from his investigations with the county council surveyor and from the labour exchange, it appears that there are over 1,000 men willing to cut turf at 35/- a week on a bog which is much nearer than Donaghmore? In view of that, can the Parliamentary Secretary say why the suspension of unemployment assistance in these cases has taken place?
Is it not a fact that the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance has stated that he cannot get sufficient men to cut turf? There appears to be plenty of them in his own area.
Is not that the answer?
What is the reason for the suspension of unemployment assistance in the cases I have mentioned? I have not yet got a reply.
I have given the reply.
Well, I intend to raise this matter on the adjournment since I have not got a reply now.