asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state the amounts allocated in each county for the current year, under the Local Authorities (Works) Act, 1949, and the corresponding figures for the year ended 31st March, 1951.

As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with your permission, a Chinn Chomhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.

The following is the statement:—

LOCAL AUTHORITIES (WORKS) ACT, 1949.

NOTE.—In addition to the grant allocations shown above a special allocation of £1,000 has been made available in each year to each county council for the execution of works ancillary to operations under the Land Rehabilitation Project. The special allocation in the case of Cork County Council was £3,000.

asked the Minister for Local Government if he has received requests from the (1) Laoighis, and (2) Offaly County Councils for further grants under the Local Authorities (Works) Act, 1949, to enable both bodies to carry out essential schemes already approved by his Department; further, whether he is aware that 300 men at present employed on such schemes in County Laoighis will be paid off this week unless further grants are made available; and, if so, if he will now state what action he has taken or proposes taking in the matter.

The responsibility of deciding on the timing of execution of approved works under the Local Authorities (Works) Act rests with each local authority, and the Department has recommended that in planning works sharp fluctuations in employment should be avoided. Laoighis County Council apparently decided, however, that the maximum employment should be afforded for a short period. In this connection I note that the employment on works under the Act in the four months September to December, 1951, was appreciably higher than that afforded in the corresponding months in 1950.

In reply to the council's request for further grants for these works I have indicated that the maximum amount which can be made available in the current year, having regard to the amount provided for this service in the Department's Vote, has already been allocated and cannot be increased.

In the case of Offaly County Council, the grant so far made available for works under the Act is in general sufficient to meet the estimated cost of approved works.

Is the Minister aware— I believe he is aware—that the works that are waiting to be carried out have been approved by his own Department? Am I to understand that there is no more money available for the administration of the Local Authorities (Works) Act, 1949? Is it proposed to suspend the operation of the Act which the Fianna Fáil Party voted against when it was brought into this House?

The amount of the Estimate was reduced by the previous Government.

Is it not the usual practice in cases of this kind to bring in a Supplementary Estimate if there is need for it?

£50,000 they cut off it.

I did not ask you to reply.