asked the Minister for Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the statement made at the last meeting of Meath County Council by the county surveyor regarding the likelihood of serious unemployment developing in County Meath by virtue of the exhaustion of grants from the Local Authorities (Works) Act funds as well as the road fund, and if in view of the seriousness of this situation, he will be prepared to consider making additional grants available for the relief of unemployment in the county.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Meath Unemployment.
The allocation of the current year's grants from the Road Fund and grants for works under the Local Authorities (Works) Act were notified early this year to all county councils who were advised to arrange the timing and execution of the works in such a way as to avoid sharp fluctuations in employment. While the official proposals of the Meath County Council on the present position have not yet been submitted to the Department, I understand that the county engineer has been requested to submit supplementary schemes. These will be considered when received in the Department.
Am I to take it from that reply that there will be additional funds made available if these schemes are approved by the Department?
At this stage it would be impossible to say, but I will be in a position to say so when we get the further schemes from the county engineer.