asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state whether it is the intention of his Department to provide Ayrshire bulls at A 1 stations, and if any offer of bulls of this breed has been received by his Department.

It is not at present intended that Ayrshire bulls be located at the artificial insemination stations.

The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative, but my Department was informed a short time ago by the chairman of the Irish Ayrshire Cattle Breeders' Club that the Ayrshire Cattle Herd Book Society had offered two or three pedigreeAyrshire bulls to the club for artificial insemination purposes in this country.

Is the Minister prepared to accept these bulls?

We are not accepting them.