asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state how many cattle were purchased by his Department for shipment to Belgium during the months of September and October of this year, and what was the nett loss (if any) to the Free State taxpayers as a result of these transactions.

The number of cattle purchased on behalf of the Department for export to Belgium in the month of September was 161, the net loss on the sale being £562. In October 37 cattle were shipped, on which a net profit of £12 9s. was made. No bounty was paid in respect of any of these shipments.