asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state the total local debt of all local councils both county and urban (a) in 1932 and (b) at the latest available date, giving each county separately.

As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:—

The total net indebtedness of all local authorities (excluding harbour authorities, vocational education committees and county committees of agriculture) was £15,161,928 at 31st March, 1932, and £137,370,622 at 31st March, 1958.

The figures for indvidual county councils at these dates were as follows:—

NOTE.—The figures given above for county councils at 31st March, 1932 include figures for Boards of Health, Boards of Health and Public Assistance and the North and West Cork Boards of Public Assistance but do not include at either date figures for the Balrothery, Dublin, Rathdown, South Cork and Waterford Boards of Assistance which are set out below:—