asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that reconstruction work was done after hours during the past two years by an official or officials of the Tirconaill County Council, for which a sum was passed for payment at a meeting of the Finance Committee of the Council on the 28th July, 1927, and, if so, if he can state the nature of the work done, and whether the payment of same has been approved by his Department, and if he can also state whether the said sum will be chargeable to the rates of the county.

The Council's offices were destroyed by fire in February, 1925, and, no doubt, the reconstruction of official records involved additional labour on the part of the Council's staff.

No proposal for special payment in respect of such work has so far been submitted. If such a proposal is received full inquiry as to the extent of the work involved will be made before the decision of the Department is given.

There is no source other than the county rates from which such expenditure could be met.

Can the Minister state whether a resolution was adopted by the Council authorising this work to be undertaken?

I have no information with regard to that.

Will the Minister make inquiries?

If the Deputy thinks it important. The matter will be gone into if any request for special payment arises.