asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that a large amount of unemployment and poverty exists in the towns, villages and rural districts (including the Islands) of County Donegal; and whether he will state the total amount which he intends to allocate for the relief of unemployment in that county out of moneys provided by the Relief Schemes Vote.

asked the Minister for Finance whether he will state the amount of money which he intends to allocate to County Limerick from the moneys provided by the Relief Schemes Vote in order to provide employment in that county.

I propose to answer questions numbers 1 and 2 together. The sum of £300,000 provided in the Relief Schemes Vote was provided for the relief of unemployment and distress. Accordingly the main considerations governing the distribution of the Grant were the extent of the needs of a particular locality from the point of view of the amount of unemployment or distress existing there and the possibility of putting useful schemes into operation without delay. It will, therefore, be appreciated that the amount voted by the Dáil could not properly be allocated on a county basis.

Various classes of Relief Works have been undertaken under the supervision of the Department of Local Government and Public Health, the Land Commission, the Office of Public Works, and the Department of Agriculture. It is not yet possible to give a final figure for the amount which will be spent in either of the counties to which the questions refer.

Might I ask the Minister whether the Department of Fisheries, apart from the Land Commission, has been granted any of this money for distribution?

Some works have been carried out by the Department of Fisheries.