I move:

That the Dáil agree with the Seanad in amendment No. 1:—

Section 3, sub-section (7). All words after the word "assigned" in line 2 deleted down to the end of the sub-section and the following words substituted therefor:—

"unless all the following conditions are complied with, that is to say:—

(a) that such assignment is to an approved company;

(b) that the Minister consents to such assignment;

(c) that such consent is endorsed on the document effecting such assignment."

The amendment was inserted for the purpose of clarifying the section and making it clear that no assignment can be made to any company but an approved company under the terms of the Bill.

I move:

That the Dáil agree with the Seanad in amendment No. 2:—

Before Section 7 a new section inserted as follows:—

"(1) Any moneys raised by a local authority for the purposes of Section 67 of the Local Government Act, 1925 (No. 5 of 1925), and not applied before the passing of this Act by such local authority for the said purposes may be applied by such local authority in defraying any expenses incurred by them under this Act.

"(2) Any contributions paid before the passing of this Act under sub-section (2) of Section 67 of the Local Government Act, 1925, to the funds of any such association as is mentioned in the said sub-section shall be expended by such association in accordance with the said sub-section as if the said Section 67 had not been repealed by this Act."

This amendment was inserted to provide for the transition period: to carry on any arrangements that have been made under the terms of the section of the old Local Government Act under which grants were made.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary state what is the difference in the purposes for which an association approved under the 1925 Act might expend money and the purposes for which an association approved under this Bill when it becomes an Act might expend money?

The old arrangement was carried out under the terms of Section 67 of the Local Government Act of 1925. Under the provisions of this Bill different arrangements will obtain. Before the coming into force of the new Act you will have a transition period. A rate might have been struck and it might have been arranged that it would be apportioned on a different basis to that set out in this Bill. The idea of this amendment is to provide that the money can be allocated under the terms of this Bill when it becomes an Act.

The purpose of Section 2 seems to be to allow the local authority to expend money as if Section 67 of the old Act had not been repealed by this Bill. I would like to know what is the effect of that. What difference will it make in the allocation of the money?

That matter does not arise on this amendment. It could have been raised when the House was discussing the section laying down the terms on which money could be voted.