asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state if he has yet completed the inquiries which he proposed to make into the reasons for the recent increases in bus fares in Cork, and, if so, if he will state the result of those inquiries.

The investigation into the increased costs in materials, wages, maintenance, etc., which led to the recent increases by the Great Southern Railways Company in bus fares in Cork has not yet concluded, and I am not, therefore, in a position to state the result of the investigation.

Could the Minister give any idea as to when the investigation will be completed and the result made known?

I am afraid not. The Deputy will understand that my Department is working short-handed under great pressure, and that this is one of a number of other matters which are urgent.