asked the Minister for Finance what steps have been taken by him to release money from the 1972-73 Budget to improve the employment position.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment Position.
22.
In October, 1971, the Government took a number of measures aimed at boosting the level of employment and output. These measures included the allocation of an extra £20 million for spending under the public capital programme in the present financial year. In January last, following a review of the position by the Government, the Taoiseach announced certain further measures to stimulate economic activity, including an indication that the public capital programme for next year would show a further substantial increase and that capital allocations for that year could be drawn upon by Departments and other public bodies during the remainder of the present year ending on 31st March in order to get works going and stimulate activity in the economy right away.
It is not yet possible to indicate the extent to which money from next year's capital programme will be needed under this arrangement to supplement the revised level of the 1971-72 capital programme.
In view of the fact that after the £20 million was allocated the unemployment position got worse and since the allocation of a second injection over a month ago the employment position is still getting worse, would it be fair to suggest that nothing has been done to put the money into circulation in order to relieve unemployment?
No, it certainly would not.
Would the Minister answer the question then?
The fact is the unemployment situation would have got considerably worse if action had not been taken. The rate of increase in unemployment has certainly slowed down considerably and, while I have not got the precise information the Deputy is seeking available, I can give him one example. Out of the additional capital made available in October £1 million, as the Deputy will recall, was made available for houses and that enabled another 800 local authority houses to be started straight away in the current year throughout the country. That is one example.
The Minister could not say what happened the other £19 million?
I cannot say precisely at this stage in relation to all of it but I am giving this as an example.
Would the Minister be able to let me have, if I asked the question again in a week's time, specific cases where any of this money has been spent other than the £1 million he says went to housing? How long would he require before he would be able to give us that information?
I could not say the precise date on which this information will be available but I am sure the Deputy knows from his own wide experience as a public representative of other areas than housing where this has been reflected.
I cannot find one penny being spent.
Schools, for instance.
Not a penny.
The Deputy must be losing his touch.
Is the Minister aware that in an effort to find employment for people quickly, Dublin County Council submitted schemes with which they are ready to proceed to the Department of Local Government, and which would employ at least 300 to 500 people, and that not one of these has since been sanctioned? Even Deputy Burke came to the county council and almost wept with joy when telling us that he had the relief, that the Taoiseach would supply it tomorrow.
The county council must have rushed them in at the last minute because if they were available at the time, I am quite sure that the Minister would have done something about them.
But he has not got the money.
Of course he has.
How soon will the Minister be in a position to say how the £20 million has been allocated?
That is what I indicated to Deputy Tully—I could not at the moment say how soon this would be.
Has any of this £20 million been allocated yet?
The Deputy, I think, is referring to the announcement made by the Taoiseach. I could not say how much of it has been allocated as yet.
I asked has any of the money been allocated. You are Minister for Finance.
I understand that some of it has, but I cannot say how much or when it will be, but the money is available.
Where is it being used?
The Deputy heard what Deputy Clinton has been doing in Dublin County Council, which is apparently nothing.
He was trying to do it but they have got no money.
The money is there for him all right.
Having regard to the high unemployment rate now, particularly as compared with last year, is the Minister serious when he says he does not know what the effect of the injection of £20 million into public services has been as far as employment is concerned?
Quite serious.
The Minister does not know?
How could I know?
Send for Charlie.
For God's sake grow up.
It is scandalous that the Minister does not know.
We were told three months ago that the Government were putting £3 million into the capital budget, and then on the debate on the motion moved by the Taoiseach, we were told that next year's capital programme would be £240 million and that £50 million could be drawn in the meantime. We were told this by the Minister for Finance.
We cannot have a speech on this question.
I am not making a speech at all. Why do you interrupt me? I am merely clearing the air on the bloody thing. You said that this £50 million could be drawn on in the meantime and what did you do about it? You told us that it was available. What are you doing now? What does the Minister mean by telling us that this £50 million is available? They have not spent even one bloody penny out of the £20 million which they are telling us was available three years ago.
The Deputy knows that that is not true and he should not make statements like that.
I know it is true.
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I ask your permission, Sir, to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.