andJ. Lynch asked the Minister for Finance whether a claim has been submitted under the scheme for conciliation and arbitration for the Civil Service for the payment of children's allowances in respect of adopted children, and, if so, the nature of the decision reached; further, if the claim has been rejected, if he will give the reason why.

The answer to the Deputy's question is that a claim has been submitted and has, I understand, been discussed under the conciliation machinery for the Civil Service. The agreed report of the meeting at which the matter was last discussed has not yet, however, been submitted to me.