asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in giving advances for the purchase of agricultural machinery, under sub-head M 4 of his Estimate, he makes any effort to secure that the machinery purchased is manufactured in Saorstát Eireann.

The question of restricting the advances made under the scheme of loans for the purchase of agricultural machinery to cases where the machines proposed to be purchased are of Irish manufacture has received consideration. Such restriction, however, is not in conformity with the general spirit of the scheme which, in this particular direction, aims at giving to the loan applicant complete freedom of choice amongst machines and implements of good repute; but applicants for loans who consult the local officers of the Department are advised to purchase machines of home manufacture, if available.