asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether any men have been dismissed from work on the Shannon scheme within the past four weeks, and, if so, how many.

I understand that on the recent completion of temporary works the staff was reduced by about 280 men.

Could the Minister give us the total number of men employed on the Shannon scheme at present?

I could not say at the moment.

Could the Minister say how many, if any, Germans were in the number dispensed with?

I know that some 36 Germans have been dispensed with, but whether that number is included in the 280 or not I cannot say. As regards the percentage of Irish to Germans on the scheme, I do know that the Irish percentage is 85, and that the number will be increased to over 90 almost immediately.

Could the Minister say how many people are employed on the scheme at the present time?

As I have already stated, I cannot say at the moment.

Could the Minister say whether the reports that have appeared in the public Press as to the manner in which the men working on the scheme are housed are correct?

That is a different question, but I should say this, that there is accommodation at the works for over 140 men more than those accommodated at the works.

Could the Minister say how he arrived at the conclusion that of the workers on the scheme 85 per cent. are Irish in view of the fact that he has just stated he does not know the total number employed on the scheme?

Because I know that it is 85 per cent.

Would the Minister tell us how he arrived at the figure of 85 per cent. if he does not know the total number?

By calculations made in my office.

Could the Minister say whether the reports in the Press are inaccurate?

You may take it prima facie that the Press is inaccurate.