asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that there is serious unemployment in South Kerry; and, if so, whether he will take steps to provide the necessary employment at the earliest possible date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - South Kerry Unemployment.
Grants for employment schemes proportionate to the number of unemployment assistance recipients were made for each qualifying area in South Kerry as part of the winter unemployment scheme programme, now drawing to a close. Apart from this, I am not aware of any exceptional unemployment in the area in question.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the necessary number of registered unemployed has been increased? Heretofore, the number required in order to qualify for a grant was a specified number and recently that has been increased. I understand that it is now difficult to qualify for these grants and I ask the Parliamentary Secretary to arrange, if possible, for the grouping of two electoral divisions so that areas which do not qualify for these grants at the moment may do so in future.
That has been the case. At the moment, where we can get a sufficient number of registered unemployed in adjoining areas, we group the two and give a scheme in that area.