asked the Minister for Finance whether he has yet been able to form an estimate of the loss of revenue which will accrue by the end of the financial year by reason of the fall in supplies of oil and petrol; and whether he anticipates that the present international situation will result in any other decrease in revenue.

The possible extent to which the revenue will be affected, directly and indirectly, by the current reduction in supplies of petrol and oil and the measures to deal with the resultant deficiency in the funds available for public services are already being considered. Our allocations of petrol and other oils for the coming months have not yet been settled by O.E.E.C. and until more definite information is available on this and other matters it would be premature to arrive at firm estimates or decisions.

Does the Minister anticipate being able to make any announcement to the House before the Christmas recess?

As the Deputy is no doubt aware, the situation in relation to this matter is varying somewhat from day to day and I am not able even to say whether a week would or would not give me the information necessary on which to base firm estimates and, therefore, firm decisions.