asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the very large number of unemployed men in County Dublin, he will increase the Christmas relief grant of £1,950 to the Dublin County Council.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Dublin Christmas Relief Grant.
I assume the Deputy is referring to the allocations made for rural employment schemes. The allocation for these schemes in County Dublin for 1956-57 is £1,950, as stated by the Deputy in his question, to which, of course, must be added the local contribution of £650, making available, accordingly, a total of £2,600 for these schemes. This compares with £1,200 available in 1955-56, £400 in 1954-55 and nil in 1953-54.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware, when he starts to make comparisons with 1954, that there were very few people unemployed in County Dublin in 1954 and that there are hundreds unemployed to-day? Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that his miserable pittance of £1,900 for the abnormal number of unemployed in County Dublin at the present time—even in the town of Swords there are 100 unemployed— would not give them three weeks' work?
That is not right, about the 100 people.
The Parliamentary Secretary comes to this House——
Is the Deputy asking a supplementary question?
I cannot let this go.
Only 34 questions have been answered.
Pardon me, a Cheann Comhairle. This is a very important question for my constituents.
There are other important questions on the Paper.
I know.
May I ask how are these figures of winter relief grants arrived at?
That is an entirely different question.
Are they not based on the unemployment figures in the previous January?
Arising out of the reply——
No. 36.
A Cheann Comhairle——
No. 36.
I have not been answered and I am defending the rights of my people in Dublin.
No. 36.
I want to persevere here in order to get a reply to that question.
The Deputy knows what will happen if he perseveres too much.
He is talking about 1954. There was full employment in County Dublin in 1954.
He gave nothing at all.
Interruptions are disorderly from any side of the House. I suggest that that ought to be remembered. No. 36.