asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware that Donegal County Council have given two weeks notice to over 70 county council workmen; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Donegal County Council Workmen.
14.
The employment of workmen is a matter for the local authority, who have the responsibility to programme their various operations throughout the year. I am aware that the local authority claim to have found it necessary to lay off workmen in order to contain expenditure within the limits of its income and states that the money available for road maintenance works is inadequate to maintain existing levels of employment in 1981. In this connection the local authority have been advised that it is not possible to allocate additional road grants for 1981. I may add that the total allocated to the county council in road grants this year represents an increase of 54 per cent on last year's allocations.
Since county council workers are mainly used on lesser roads as opposed to primary or national secondary roads, would the Department of the Environment object, if a particular council foresaw difficulties in relation to certain jobs and transferred moneys from a national primary route to county road maintenance to secure or guarantee continued employment for workers without affecting the overall allocation to that local authority?
I think the money would have to be spent under the subhead to which it is allocated because there is also European money involved.
Arising from the Minister's reply, surely it is within the Minister's responsibility and power to allocate additional funds to Donegal and other county councils for this work? Would the Minister not accept that, in view of the loss of 70 jobs in Donegal, he should make an additional allocation available despite the fact—and I am glad he admitted it—that there was a 54 per cent increase this year on last year?
I should be very glad to allocate additional money if it was available. Unfortunately, it is not available. Only three or four local authorities appear to have run into this problem.
Further arising from the Minister's reply, if there is money available in the Department for the appointment of highly-paid public relations firms and experts, is it not more important that the money be paid to local authorities to keep road workers in employment rather than jobs for the boys and payment for efforts and exercises during the general election campaign on behalf of the Minister's party?
The Deputy is repeating something he read in the papers. He should check these things out before he makes accusations.
Ceist 15, please.