asked the Minister for Finance whether he can state (a) how much of the £150,000 Unemployment Grant, 1927, has been expended during the months of November and December, 1927, and the first half of January, 1928, by the Local Government Department, the Land Commission, and by other approved methods; (b) how much has been expended from the beginning of February up to the present; and how much it is proposed to expend up to the 30th April; and (c) how much it is calculated will remain unexpended on the 1st May.

I regret that I am not in a position to give the information the Deputy desires. The practice, so far as expenditure on public health is concerned, is that moneys are paid in the first instance from the funds of the local authority concerned, and subsequently refunded according as certified returns of expenditure are submitted to the Department of Local Government and Public Health.

Will the Minister say when he will be prepared to give an answer to the question?

I could not say. I have not looked into that.

Would the Minister say if the question were put down in a fortnight's time whether he would be prepared to give an answer?

I might or I might not. The Deputy can put down the question if he wishes. I have not really looked into the matter.