asked the Minister for Finance whether the Government intends introducing any special scheme or schemes of employment in an effort to absorb Dublin's 15,000 unemployed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Unemployed.
The number of men registered at the four Dublin employment exchanges on Saturday, 21st May, 1949, was 11,567, of whom 5,876 were in receipt of unemployment assistance. As the Deputy is aware, special employment schemes are sanctioned each year to provide a spell of employment as unskilled labourers for men in receipt of unemployment assistance in Dublin County Borough, and an allocation of £70,000 has been made for this purpose in the present financial year, subject to a contribution of £30,000 by the corporation.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that £70,000 is not sufficient to cope with unemployment in the city to-day, and would he not represent to his Minister the necessity for increasing that grant? There are a number of capital expenditure schemes with which Dublin Corporation could go ahead if we got Government assistance in proper proportion.
It is a fair grant for a register of 11,000. There is no such thing as 15,000, as was stated by the Deputy in his question.
Well, there was the last day; some may have got assistance since.