asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state if any grants were made available to owners of quarries during the past ten years, and if he will name the quarries and the amount of grant in each case, and if he will state what steps were taken by his Department to see that such grants, if any, were properly used by the recipients.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Grants to Quarry Owners.
During the past ten years grants to quarry owners from the Employment Assistance Fund to assist mineral exploration and development have been recommended in 85 cases. The total of such grants was £16,267. It is not the practice to disclose the names of the quarries or the amount of grant in such cases. The primary object of these grants was the relief of unemployment, and the Department normally requires that, as well as the grant, an equivalent sum from the grantee is expended in the employment of men in receipt of unemployment assistance in the district. It is to the interest of the grantee to get the best return for the money expended.
What steps has the Minister taken to see that these moneys are used for the purpose for which they are given? Are there any inspectors to investigate that matter?
There are.
Is the Minister aware that, in the district of Stradbally, in Laoighis, there are the best limestone quarries in Ireland and that several of those quarry owners had to emigrate to England because they could not get assistance while I am informed that the secretary of a Fianna Fáil Cumann got assistance simply because he was associated with Fianna Fáil?
Mr. Larkin
Join it.
The Deputy will find it much better to put down a question relating to a specific case and try to substantiate his allegation by giving the facts.
He knows the practice from the inside.
He was not so far inside as that.
It is clear that we do not know where State money is going. It is given to the Minister's own friends and colleagues——
The Deputy may ask questions but is not at liberty to make speeches or allegations.
Will the Minister give me permission to see the names of the 85 persons who got the grants?