asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the month of the year 1948 selected for the enumeration of those qualified for employment on special employment schemes; the average grant per worker for unemployed ex-county council turf workers made available during the present year; the average grant for unemployed workers available for employment schemes (a) in the present financial year, (b) in the previous financial year; and finally the approximate percentage of each type of grant paid in wages as distinct from other items of cost.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Special Employment Schemes.
The enumeration referred to in the question was taken as usual in the month of January, when the number of unemployment assistance recipients is generally at a maximum. The programme of employment schemes takes some months to prepare and the lists of works are selected before the employment period Orders terminate in October, so that it would not be possible to base grants on current unemployment figures.
The average number of men employed by the county councils on the production of hand-won turf in the summer of 1947 was 15,600. A considerable number of these men had secured alternative employment in 1948, but a sum of £195,000 was made available in grants to the county councils to provide employment for the remainder.
I am not quite sure what is intended by the expression "the average grant for unemployed workers available for employment schemes." I can say, however, that the expenditure on employment schemes in the current financial year should be virtually the same as in 1947-48.
The labour content of employment schemes varies considerably, according to the amount and class of materials required, the rates of wages in different districts, and the proportion of carting, etc.; a rough approximation is 55 per cent. to 60 per cent.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary think it adequate to deal with a situation in which unemployment has increased and emigration has doubled just to give a similar amount for the relief of unemployment to what was given last year?
Unemployment has not increased.
According to the statistics it has, and emigration has doubled.
You said it had increased in Donegal and actually it is lower there than it was last year.
You know what Donegal has said.