Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 18 Nov 1942

Vol. 88 No. 16

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Relief Schemes in Leix and Offaly.

asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that the Manager for the counties of Leix and Offaly has informed members of certain local authorities in his area that he is unable to carry out a number of useful and necessary relief schemes owing to the very limited amount of money already allocated by the Department of Finance for this purpose; and whether he will increase the amount so that the County Manager can carry out all such schemes in the two counties concerned.

The Minister is not aware of the statement attributed in the question to the Manager for Counties Leix and Offaly.

The sum voted by the Oireachtas in the Employment Schemes Vote is distributed over the country in proportion to the number of eligible unemployed persons in each district as indicated by the latest available returns of unemployment assistance recipients; and the grants allocated to Counties Leix and Offaly have been calculated on that basis.

It is not proposed to afford preferential treatment to these counties by increasing the general allocation for the current financial year, but any work of special importance will, if submitted through the proper channels, be considered on its merits in the light of the unemployment position in the area in which it is situated.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary be surprised to hear that such a statement was made by the county manager at the last meeting of the Leix County Council? Is he aware that a number of schemes involving the repair of bog roads is concerned, and that a considerable quantity of turf is lying in the bogs in particular areas of the two counties because the necessary money is not available? If, as stated by the Minister for Finance on the discussion of the Central Bank Bill, there is plenty of money available for every creditworthy scheme——

That is not a supplementary question.

——what is the difficulty in providing money in this case for the schemes recommended by the county surveyors in both counties?

I am informed that the statement was not made.

Barr
Roinn