asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state why the application for a loan by the Clifden Rural District Council for purchase of seeds was not sanctioned by his Department except for one electoral division in the area.

The question of authorising schemes for the supply of seeds was carefully considered by the Government, who gave permission for the mortgage of the rates for seed loans in certain areas where the information as to the extent of last season's crop obtained by the Department of Agriculture showed that the yield was so poor as to justify such procedure.

In the Clifden Rural District the Department of Agriculture, through their Inspectors, reported that these circumstances existed only in the Electoral Division of Cushkillary.

I wish to ask the Minister is it true that very strong representations were made by representative men in the Clifden Rural District as to the necessity of a more extended scheme for the Clifden Union?

The answer is in the affirmative, but I based my decision on the information at my disposal.