asked the Minister for Local Government whether the lowest, or any tender for the Belmullet sewerage scheme has yet been accepted and, if not, the reason for the delay; further, whether the consulting engineer departed from the usual practice in relation to insurance bonds, and, if so, whether the departure has been sanctioned by him.

No proposal has been submitted by Mayo County Council for the acceptance of a tender for Belmullet sewerage scheme. I understand that some difficulty has arisen with regard to the insurance bond for the contract, but I am not aware of any suggested departure from the usual practice in these matters.