asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the number of hours overtime worked by civil servants from April, 1957, to date, as compared with the same period in 1956, and comparative figures of recruitment for the same periods.

The figures requested by the Deputy in respect of overtime are not available and their compilation would entail an entirely disproportionate expenditure of time and labour. As regards recruitment, the particulars sought are being assembled, but will take some little time to compile. They will be made available if the Deputy wishes to repeat this part of his question in, say, three weeks.