asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state whether, having regard to unexpected delays in completing the report of the Dublin Housing Inquiry, he proposes to take such action as is necessary to restore activities in private house building industries in Dublin City and suburbs; and whether he is prepared to consider taking such early action on the basis of the evidence, that was tendered to the housing inquiry, proposing the provision of credit facilities for house purchasers by means of limited State guarantees to approved building societies or other accredited agencies.

I presume what the Deputy has in mind is the encouragement of house building by the provision of moneys for the purchase of dwellings. Arrangements for an extension of house purchase finance through building societies have been engaging the attention of the Department of Finance and my Department, and there have been discussions with the Irish Banks Standing Committee. I am not at the present time in a position to make a further announcement, but I expect to be in a position to do so by the end of the year.

Arising out of the Minister's reply, can he give us any information as to when the report of the Black Committee is going to be published, in its relation to housing? I ask the question because the way in which that report has been held up is a gross public scandal and is giving rise to the gravest social problems in this city, and unless it is published at an early date very grave consequences will ensue. Is the Minister aware that the failure of that report to appear is providing fertile soil for disturbers of the peace and providing them with propaganda for creating civic disorder on the ground that the Government are oblivious of or indifferent to the sufferings of the people who are to be relieved under the terms of the Black Committee report?

I suggest that that is a matter for the Minister for Justice.

It may be a matter for the Minister for Justice, but perhaps the Minister for Local Government and Public Health, in view of these questions, would press upon the Minister for Justice the grossness of the scandal of withholding the report of the Black Committee for the time that it has been withheld.

The report has not been held up by us. We have not got the report.

I am not blaming the Minister, but I am blaming the Committee for their failure to report, and I am blaming the failure of the Minister and his predecessor to force them to provide a report—a failure which is creating a very real social danger in this city.

The Minister has stated that he has no responsibility in the matter.

I have done my best in the matter, at any rate.

Well, this will give more strength to your elbow.