asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he is aware that single men under 50 in Kerry are being pressed to go to Kildare to engage in turf production, and whether he will arrange to have these people given employment at home under the various Government-sponsored schemes, such as the minor employment, land reclamation and local authorities' works schemes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment for County Kerry Workers.
I am informed that recruitment of workers by Bord na Móna for employment in turf production in Kildare and Offaly has been suspended since the 24th November last. Minor employment and other schemes are in operation throughout the country. These schemes do not, however, come within my purview and any representations relating to them should be addressed to the appropriate Ministers.
Is the Minister aware that numbers of men in the Cahirciveen and Portmagee districts have been deprived of unemployment assistance because they could not avail of work in Kildare, and will he not admit that it is unfair to these men to ask them to take that work?
That is argument. Ministers may not be asked their opinions.
We have cases——
The Deputy is making a speech.
If we can show that these men have good grounds as to why they could not go to Kildare—their parents are disabled and are depending on them—and that they could not get employment in their own districts before they were deprived of unemployment assistance, will the Minister see that they will have some little money made available to them for the Christmas period?
Question 11.