asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the amount allocated to each local authority for winter relief schemes in the current financial year and in the financial years 1953-54, 1954-55 and 1955-56; and if, in view of the present grave unemployment position, he will state the reasons for the substantial reductions in the allocations for the current financial year.

The information in the first part of the question is in the form of tabular statements which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate in the Official Report. The reasons for the reductions in the allocations for the current financial year are twofold: (a) the necessity in present financial circumstances of limiting public expenditure, and (b) the large carry-forward on the 1st April, 1956, of unexpended grants, amounting to £285,104, which are available for expenditure in the current year.

The following is the statement:—

(a) URBAN EMPLOYMENT SCHEMES.

GRANTS ALLOCATED TO VARIOUS URBAN DISTRICTS AND COUNTY BOROUGHS.

(b) RURAL EMPLOYMENT SCHEMES.

GRANTS ALLOCATED TO VARIOUS COUNTY COUNCILS.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary state if it is now the policy of the Government to limit expenditure at the cost of employment?

That is what you are saying. If the people believe you, they are fools.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary indicate whether these cuts in relief scheme grants are uniform all over the counties or pro rata to the amount last year?

What cuts?

The cuts you have just admitted.

He does not know what he said.

Could I get a reply, please?

Question No. 23.

Could I get a reply to my supplementary question?

It is not the duty of the Chair to get a reply for the Deputy.

The Parliamentary Secretary should be made give a reply.

He is dying to reply.

You are dying to tell me.

asked the Minister for Finance if he will state in respect of Roscommon County Council the amount allocated for winter relief schemes in the last and current financial years, respectively.

The total allocation for winter employment schemes in County Roscommon in 1955-56 was £4,535 of which £1,250 was allocated to the county council. The corresponding figures for the current financial year are £3,070 and £250 respectively.

In view of the big reduction that has taken place in this grant, would the Parliamentary Secretary explain what he means by stating that this reduction of the grant is for the necessity of limiting public expenditure when the Taoiseach has already stated that Government policy is to secure a lasting reduction in unemployment?

Hear, hear!

Is this lasting reduction in unemployment to be secured by a mounting rate of emigration forced by a reduction in Government grants to needy families all over Ireland?

Productive work.

Is it Government policy now, during the Christmas period, to force the breadwinners in needy families to emigrate as a result of the reduction in the grants which has taken place, according to the Parliamentary Secretary?

It is not.

These unfortunate people can take a holiday, no doubt.

I think that is a scandalous state of affairs.