asked the Minister for Finance if he will state what (if any) steps he proposes taking during the present year to assist county councils to find a market for turf lying on their hands from last year, and whether he is in a position to say if an announcement in regard to the matter will be officially communicated to the several county councils in the near future.

All possible steps, within the limits of existing transport facilities are being taken and will continue to be taken to provide a market for all surplus turf produced by the county surveyors. The matter referred to in the final part of the Deputy's question is at present under consideration.

There is, however, in general far less cause for anxiety in relation to the turf held by county councils than in relation to the turf which they have not got.

asked the Minister for Finance if he received from Limerick County Council copy of a resolution adopted unanimously by them in which they recommend that the wages payable to turf workers be increased to 7/- per day; and, if so, whether he will state what action he proposes taking in regard to this recommendation.

A copy of resolution in the terms stated was received and the whole question of the level of wages for turf production in relation to other occupations is under consideration.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say how long it is intended to keep the question under consideration, in view of the valuable time that is being lost at present, that no workers are cutting turf there, and that a similar condition exists in the surrounding counties? Will the Parliamentary Secretary undertake to expedite the matter?

That is one of the supplementary questions I will deal with later.

I understand that the Parliamentary Secretary will answer later all the supplementary questions relating to turf production.

Is it not a fact that Offaly County Council unanimously recommended a rate of 1/- per hour for a 48-hour week for workers?

There is a later question in relation to that.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary explain why the resolution has not been acknowledged or sanction refused seeing that it was received on April 1st and that this is April 30th? What is the explanation of the delay in replying to the county council?

I understood that the Parliamentary Secretary was going to answer all the supplementaries at the one time.

Yes.

Will he deal with supplementaries now or after he has answered the other questions?

When all the relevant questions have been answered.

The Parliamentary Secretary referred to the powers delegated to county surveyors by county councils. No powers were delegated to the county surveyors by them, but powers were vested in county surveyors by the Government.