asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state the total amount of legal fees and costs, etc., paid by Clare County Council under all headings of taxed costs to their solicitor, as disclosed in the abstract of accounts submitted to him by the council for the year ended 31st March, 1958.

The abstract of accounts for the year ended 31st March, 1958, shows the total sum for legal expenses in each service account under which such expenses were incurred. They are:—

The abstract does not show how much of these sums represents payments by the county council to their solicitor who is paid on a taxed costs basis.