asked the Minister for Finance if he will state (1) if the persons from whom land is compulsorily acquired by local authorities for housing purposes are given the opportunity to have the appeal held by a particular arbitrator; (2) the number of arbitrators at present on the panel; and (3) the number on the panel required by the Act.

The appointment of an arbitrator to deal with a case such as the Deputy mentions is a matter solely for the Reference Committee constituted in accordance with the Acquisition of Land (Reference Committee) Act, 1925, which consists of the Chief Justice, the President of the High Court and the Chairman of the Surveyors' Institution (Irish Branch). I am informed that the answer to (i) of the Deputy's question is in the negative and that, in regard to (ii) and (iii), there is at present, and has been for many years past, only one official arbitrator and that the Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Act, 1919, does not specify any number of persons as being necessary to form a panel of arbitrators.

The Act suggests that there should be a number of people on a panel?

I have answered that question already by saying that the Act does not specify the number of people who are to be on the panel.