asked the Minister for Social Welfare his views on the proposals submitted to his Department by the Graiguecullen-Killeshin Community Association for an employment project in their area.

I accept that the proposal by the Graiguecullen-Killeshin Community Association for an employment project in the area was put forward in a constructive spirit and any initiative by locally based organisations for stimulating employment is undoubtedly welcome.

The proposal would involve the use of funds allocated to my Department for payment of benefit to persons who are unemployed. Under existing financial procedures moneys voted by the Dáil for a specific purpose cannot be diverted to other purposes no matter how meritorious the intention might be. I would, therefore, be inhibited from using for employment creation purposes moneys voted by the Dáil for the payment of unemployment benefit. I accept overall the merit of the proposal but the question of financing is a different matter more especially as separate provision is made by the Dáil in a variety of ways for the creation of employment.

There may, therefore, be more appropriate ways of dealing with this matter and I have accordingly asked the Minister for Labour to consider whether he might be able to assist from funds available to him.

9.