asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state what is the cause of the delay of the Appointments Commissioners in appointing a dispensary doctor to the Bunclody Dispensary District, County Wexford, now vacant more than two months; if he is aware that such delay has caused an extra expenditure of £30 to the ratepayers, and whether he can say when this appointment will be made.

Application for sanction to fill this vacancy was not made to me until the 18th ultimo. As the late medical officer also held an appointment as dispensary medical officer in an adjoining county, it became necessary to institute inquiries as to the best manner of filling the vacancies created by his retirement. A visit to the district by an inspector from my Department was made recently, and my decision authorising the filling of the vacancy referred to by the Deputy is being forwarded today to the Wexford Board of Health and Public Assistance. The further procedure in connection with the selection of a suitable person to fill the vacancy is now a matter for the Local Appointments Commission.

If the members of the Board of Health, through some fault of their own, incurred this foolish and unnecessary expenditure, that has been caused by the Appointments Commissioners, would they not be surcharged, and is it fair to the ratepayers to have this unnecessary expenditure of £30 when the position could have been filled in the ordinary way two months ago?

That will be a question for the auditor.

Will he surcharge the Department?