asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the total amount spent annually during each of the years 1939-40 to 1949-50 on bog development works.

On the assumption that the question refers to direct expenditure by State Departments on works of road and drainage development for the production of hand-won turf, the figures are as follows:—

These figures include expenditure by the Department of Local Government on bogs acquired by local authorities, as well as an estimated proportion of the expenditure on bog roads and drains under minor employment schemes, but they do not include expenditure by Bord na Móna.