asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that farmers in the district of North Mayo erecting houses under the Housing Acts are experiencing considerable difficulty in obtaining Irish slates for which provision was made and whether in view of this fact he will facilitate them by expediting such deliveries as ordered, or, alternatively, grant permission for the use of other material.

I am aware that difficulty is being experienced in obtaining sufficient supplies of Irish slates. In such cases it is open to applicants to use concrete tiles of Saorstát manufacture.