asked the Minister for Local Government the amounts of the grants being made available under the local employment scheme for the Arklow, Bray and Wicklow urban areas and the Wicklow County Council area for this winter.
49.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Employment Schemes.
48.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will make a statement on the amount of money being allocated by the Government to local authorities for unemployment relief schemes in 1969-70; and whether he has ordered no new grants for unemployment schemes for urban areas.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 49 together.
I would refer the Deputies to my reply of 23rd October to Question No. 101.
Does this mean that local authorities will not receive any moneys for relief works during the coming winter?
They will receive moneys for old schemes.
Will those who received money in the past for such work receive it again this year?
Yes, for schemes that are not completed.
This means that the relief schemes in many areas are going to cease and will not continue in the future.
They will not be continued this year.
Does the Minister realise his responsibility to these unfortunate people who look forward year after year to these five, six, seven and eight weeks work just before Christmas, because he is taking the bread out of their mouths?
No.
That is what the Minister is doing. It is petty and mean saving.
Will the Minister say if this is an attempt to avoid a Budget?
This decision was taken a long time before the Budget.
I am talking about the new Budget.
It is not concerned with any new Budget; it is concerned with this year's Budget.