asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he can state the position of the Unemployment Fund on 1st January in each of the following years: 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926 and 1927.

By the 1st January, 1923, the accounts of the Unemployment Fund showed a deficit of £437,100. This was subsequently increased as follows:—

Arising out of the Minister's reply, can he say whether the deficit of £437,100 at the 1st January, 1923, represents the deficit at that date from the inauguration of unemployment scheme in 1920, or whether it represents merely the deficit incurred since the Saorstát Government took over on 1st April, 1922?

I will have to get notice of that question.