asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state the number of persons employed by the Offaly County Council on all kinds of turf-producing operations for the week ended May 10th, 1941, or the latest date for which the information is available.

I am informed that work on turf production by the Offaly County Council started on 12th May. Forty-two men were employed by the county council on preliminary drainage operations during the week ended 10th May, 1941.