Under this Vote funds are provided for the annual programme of works to give employment in urban and rural areas to men in receipt of unemployment assistance; and also for other related services, including the rural improvements scheme, which are a useful aid to the relief of unemployment. The provision also covers the salaries, travelling expenses, etc., of the staff of the special employment schemes office responsible for the administration of the Vote.
The services covered by the Estimate for 1952-53 are the same as those for which a provision of £752,000 was originally made in 1951-52, but during that year it became necessary to provide additional funds for expenditure under sub-head I—Development works in bogs used by landholders and other private producers; and under sub-head K—Rural Improvements Scheme. For this purpose a supplementary Vote of £35,000 was passed in February, 1952, so that the total amount available for expenditure in 1951-52 was £787,000 plus a sum of £8,190 transferred to Vote 10 from the Vote for Increases in Remuneration.
As compared with the amount originally voted for 1951-52, therefore, the proposed provision for 1952-53 shows an increase of £256,000.
Since the Estimates Volume was printed it has been decided to increase the provision under sub-head I—Bog Development Schemes—to £150,000, leaving the total of the Vote to stand at £1,008,000 in anticipation of possible savings which may occur in connection with the execution of the many and varied types of schemes covered by the Vote.
Compared with the original provisions in 1951-52 the principal increases are:—sub-head H—Minor Employment Schemes—£95,000 increased by £25,000 to £120,000; sub-head I—Bog Development Schemes—£90,000 increased by £60,000 to £150,000; sub-head K—Rural Improvements Scheme—£125,000 increased by £50,000 to £175,000; and sub-head L—Miscellaneous Schemes— £52,100 increased by £149,760 to £201,860.
The provisions in sub-heads A to E of the Vote are to cover the administrative expenses of the staff of the special employment schemes office. They call for no special comment as the increased figure in sub-head A is virtually offset by increases in remuneration which were provided for by special Vote in 1951-52.
Provision for employment schemes in the various urban and rural units of area is made under sub-heads F, G and H. The moneys are distributed broadly in proportion to the number of unemployment assistance recipients resident in each area.
The provision under sub-head I is for the repair or construction of roads and drains serving bogs used principally by landowners, who produce turf for their domestic requirements and for sale in neighbouring towns. The increased provision this year is intended to encourage a greater production of native fuel.
Sub-head J, provision £40,000, is to render available similar facilities in bogs acquired by local authorities to produce turf for their own needs.
The provision under sub-head K— Rural Improvements Scheme—is for the purpose of carrying out works to benefit the lands of groups of landholders, including small drainage schemes and the construction and repair of accommodation roads to houses, lands and bogs. State grants ranging from 75 per cent. to 95 per cent. of the cost of approved works are made available, subject to contribution of the balance of the cost by the benefiting landholders. The landholders' contributions are graduated in relation to the average poor law valuations of the farms served, and in cases where the work is of substantial benefit to members of the general public in addition to the immediate beneficiaries the percentage of State grants may be increased. The additional provision included in the Estimates for 1952-53 has been found necessary owing to the increasing number of applications which are being received.
Sub-head L—Miscellaneous Schemes. The provision in this sub-head is mainly for contributions towards the cost of major harbour works, the amount of the contribution in each case being governed by the labour content of the work. The remainder of the provision in the sub-head is required to meet any cases of unemployment or of an emergency nature which may be brought to notice during the course of the year.