asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a grant available from the Employment and Emergency Schemes Vote, or from other funds at his disposal, to Wicklow Urban District Council for very urgent coastal protection works estimated to cost £8,000, details of which were submitted by the Council to the Minister for Local Government in February, 1959.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wicklow Coast Protection Works.
5.
I have no responsibility generally in respect of coast protection works, and there are no funds in this year's Estimates to meet the cost of the major proposal described in the Deputy's Question. I do not see any prospect of a grant being made available from my Office.
I am prepared to give sympathetic consideration to the smaller, essential, immediate repair work required at Wicklow.
May I take it that for temporary repairs the Parliamentary Secretary can give a grant? At present we have over 300 men on the Employment Exchange. If we did receive grants 80 per cent. of the money would go on labour.
The Deputy knows there are two matters in his question. One is a long-term proposal for the protection of the promenade. The other one, the lesser one, is within the competence of the Special Employments Scheme Office to consider. It is for the carrying out of urgently-needed work to protect some minor works there.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say what Minister takes responsibility since no Government takes responsibility for coastal work? I am aware of the fact that grants have been allocated, however, for that particular work.
The Deputy is right in that there is no responsibility for coast protection. The Deputy will understand that the moneys provided by the Special Employments Scheme Office could not be given in large individual amounts such as the amount he has now mentioned. If they were, a comparatively small number of them would simply use up all the moneys we have. Therefore, if the urban council submits a lesser scheme I promise it will be given the fullest and most favourable consideration.