asked the Minister for Justice the number of (a) permanent and (b) temporary district justices at present employed in the State; if it is intended to continue the services of any temporary district justices after the 31st March, 1961; and, if so, how many.

There are at present 33 permanent and 8 temporary District Justices.

It is intended that two of the present temporary Justices will be appointed to be permanent movable Justices with effect from the 1st April next, and so far as can be foreseen at present, no temporary Justices will be required in the period following that date. The need for additional temporary assistance will, of course, be reviewed from time to time in the light of prevailing circumstances.

Can we take it that the Government will make these temporary justices permanent on 1st April, on the coming into force of the new scheme?

Not the temporary justices who are operating at present.

But two of the temporary men will be made permanent as from 1st April?

Yes.