Vol. 253 No. 11
asked the Minister for Local Government the centres in Erris, Ballycroy and Achill, County Mayo, at which employment is at present available for the men who were deprived of unemployment assistance as a result of the recent Employment Period Order; and the number of workers required in each area.
99.
asked the Minister for Local Government what State grant, if any, will be made available to Tipperary SR County Council and Waterford County Council in order to provide work for persons who have been disallowed unemployment assistance.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 98 and 99 together.
As already announced the total allocation for local improvement schemes in the current year has been increased from £½ million to £1 million so as to make greater provision for much-needed improvement works on accommodation roads, et cetera, and to provide additional opportunities for employment in rural areas. Increased allocations have been made in all counties but the bulk of the extra money has been allocated to the western counties where the demand for the schemes and the need for additional employment is greatest.
An allocation of £129,000 has been made to Mayo County Council and £6,000 has been allocated to each of the councils of Tipperary South Riding and Waterford. The administration of the grants for these schemes is in the hands of the county councils and details regarding schemes in progress at any given time are not available in my Department.
Is the Minister not aware that these schemes are carried out by the councils' permanent staff? That is the position in Cork and I am sure it is the position in Mayo.
It is not.
In view of that, would he not agree that these schemes will not benefit in any way those who lost their unemployment assistance because of the Government's action a few weeks ago?
It is not correct for the Deputy to state that these schemes are carried out only by the councils' permanent staff. That is not the practice in many counties.
Would it be possible for the Minister to widen the scope of these schemes to take in different varieties of work?
The main work which is carried out under these schemes is very necessary and there is still a backlog of this type of road in need of repair. The work is very necessary and much needed in many rural areas. I would not consider for the present extending the scheme to include any works other than those allowed under the scheme as it stands.
Would the Minister say in what way persons who have been disallowed unemployment assistance because they are under the age of 50 and have no dependants and who, therefore, will not be signing at the local exchange because, as the Minister knows, when they are not getting any money they will not proceed to sign, will be considered for employment on these schemes?
If persons are anxious to be considered for work on these schemes they should continue to sign at the employment exchange.
This has been made clear to them?
Yes. It has been made clear to all of the exchanges and I have said it in the House before, as the Deputy knows.
It would need more publicity.
All Deputies should be fully aware of this and inform their local people about it. It is very important that they should understand this.
It is difficult to get them to sign.
There may be a pool of people as a result of this order but there may be no suitable work in particular areas. Would it be possible in particular areas to extend the scheme?
No. It is not proposed to extend the scheme at present.
On what basis was £129,000 allocated to Mayo County Council?
Joe Lenehan.
The additional £½ million the Government made available was for the western counties of which Mayo is one. In the distribution of this money, account was taken of the ratio in relation to which the allocations had been made in previous years under the local improvements scheme in these counties. The ratio was originally devised on the basis of the work done under the old special employment schemes in each of the counties over the last five years. Allocations for local improvement schemes were made on these proportions.
Would the Minister not accept that the greater part of County Cork is deemed to be in the western counties? Having regard to the number of schemes submitted from Cork, or awaiting implementation in Cork, is it fair or just to allocate twice as much money to Mayo and almost twice as much money to Galway as to Cork?
The question does not relate to County Cork.
The Minister may as well answer my question. He will be answering it next week.
In Waterford an allocation of £5,000 was made in 1968-69 and they did not spend any of the money. In the three years, 1968-69, 1969-70 and 1970-71, £15,000 was allocated to Tipperary South Riding and, out of that £15,000, they spent only £175.
That may be the case in South Tipperary but is the Minister aware——
The question relates to South Tipperary.
The Deputy cannot enlarge on this question at Question Time.
The Deputy should put down his own question and I will have the information for him.
The Minister need not be so cocky. He is not so long in the House.
I am telling the Deputy——
Other Ministers with more experience did not refuse to answer.
The question is quite specific. We cannot have arguments at Question Time.
That will not be taken from the Minister. We have a right to ask questions.
The Deputy should put down his own question.
We are entitled to ask supplementary questions.
Relating to the question originally put down.
