asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) the number of persons employed on turf production in County Mayo in each of the years 1940 to 1950; (b) the amount paid out by the county council on turf production and purchase in the same period; (c) the number of persons employed in the county by Bord na Móna in the period; (d) the total expenditure by the board in the period; (e) the number at present employed by Bord na Móna on turf production in County Mayo: (f) the number of machines operating in the county, and (g) the estimated output for the current year.

The reply is in the form of a tabular statement and will be included in the Official Report.

Following is the statement giving the particulars requested at (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) in the question:—

The figures given under (a) above are the numbers employed by the county council and by Bord na Móna at the peak period in each year. Figures regarding employment given by private interests are not available.

The men at present employed by Bord na Móna in the county are engaged on the removal and disposal of turf produced in the 1949 season.