asked the Minister for Local Government the amount of money allotted for local improvement schemes, Bord Fáilte, Gaeltacht and all agency work; and if this money will not be expended until representation is given to the union which represents the majority of local authority engineers on the staff panel which deals with the City and County Managers' Association.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Improvement Schemes.
55.
The total provision for local improvement schemes for 1973-74 is £1 million. Expenditure of allocations from this provision is a matter for the local authorities concerned and I have had no indication from any local authority about difficulty in the matter of such expenditure. The allocation of grants for Bord Fáilte, Gaeltacht or other agency works is not a matter for my Department.
Is the Minister aware of the dispute that is going on, that a certain number of local authority engineers are going slow, that in County Cork they are not working at all, and that that can lead to considerable unemployment among council workers? I have figures here.
I would prefer if the Deputy did not engage in statements of that kind.
I am aware the dispute is in progress. I am also aware that the two trade unions concerned are members of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, and that it would be wrong for me to enter into an inter-union dispute.
Thank you. I have referred a similar question to the Minister for Labour.