asked the Minister for the Environment the total savings as a result of road workers being made redundant for a three-week period by Galway County Council.
565.
Written Answers. - County Galway Road Workers.
564.
asked the Minister for the Environment if, in view of the failure of the Government to allocate £140,000 for road works in County Galway, he is aware that it will cost the Department of Social Welfare the same amount of money to pay unemployment benefit to road workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
566.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware that the 400 road workers presently employed by Galway County Council are being put on short time between now and the end of December 1982 because of the failure of the Government to provide £140,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 564, 565 and 566 together. The road grants made available to Galway County Council amount to £3.52 million in 1982. This is an increase of £377,000 on 1981 and almost double the 1980 allocation of £1.88 million. There are no other funds available to me from which further grants may be allocated. Decisions as to the employment of road workers are matters for Galway County Council. I am now informed they intend to limit layoffs to one or two weeks for some workers.
The council's estimate of the cost of avoiding the lay offs is £79,000. I have no information as to what costs may fall on the Department of Social Welfare.