Dublin Corporation environmental works scheme
The Minister said the workforce had fallen from 314 to 159, largely through permanent assimilation, and allocated £1.7 million in grant aid. He declined to guarantee further funding, saying responsibility lay primarily with the Corporation and linking the problem to low charge collection.
asked the Minister for the Environment the present position regarding the several hundred men employed by Dublin Corporation under the environmental works scheme.
Comment on this
Since last January, the number of temporary employees involved has been reduced from 314 to 159, mainly by assimilation into the corporation's normal workforce. I have recently made a further allocation of £100,000 to the corporation, bringing to £1.7 million the grant assistance to the local authority this year towards the cost of employing the men concerned. The additional allocation has been made on the basis that the corporation will retain the workers in employment, continue during 1985 with the policy of assimilating them into the permanent workforce, and assume full responsibility for the satisfactory resolution of the problem by the end of 1985, making appropriate provision in their estimates for that year.
Comment on this
Is the Minister prepared to give a commitment that he will continue to provide necessary finances to Dublin Corporation to ensure that these men are retained in employment until such time as they can all be assimilated into Dublin Corporation?
Comment on this
Is the Minister prepared to allow these men, with so many others, to join the ranks of the unemployed?
Comment on this
It relates directly to the question on the Order Paper. I am asking about the future of men who are employed currently by Dublin Corporation. I am asking the Minister who has direct responsibility for those men whether he intends to provide the necessary funds to ensure that they remain in employment or if he is prepared to allow them join the ranks of the unemployed. It is a straight question.
Comment on this
The responsibility for the workforce is primarily the responsibility of Dublin Corporation. I have made very generous allocations to them this year so as to allow the men to be assimilated. That work has continued with, as I have indicated, a reduction in the number of temporary employees from 314 to 159. I would remind the Deputy, since he has raised this question of charges, that if a much higher percentage of the charges had been collected this problem would not be there.