asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the causes of the delay in supplying bound volumes of the Public Statutes, for the years 1945 and 1946, to members of the Oireachtas; and when these volumes will be available.

The delay in supplying bound volumes of the Public Statutes for the years 1945 and 1946 to members of the Oireachtas has, I understand, been due to the necessity for completing the Irish translation of the more voluminous Acts included in the volumes in question. For instance, the Mental Treatment Act, 1945, contains 284 sections and five schedules, comprising in all no less than 110 printed foolscap pages, while the Harbours Act, 1946, contains 191 sections and four schedules, comprising in all 83 printed foolscap pages. The bound volume for 1945 is at present in the hands of the binders and will be available for issue at a very early date. The translations of the 1946 Acts have been completed and the annual volume can now be prepared for the printers. It is not however possible to say at this stage when the volume will be ready for issue.