asked the Minister for Health the estimated increase in expenditure in a full year by the Cork Health Authority arising out of the imposition of the turnover tax.

It is difficult to arrive at a precise estimate because of the fact that transactions between health authorities and official contractors under Section 10 of the Local Authorities (Combined Purchasing) Act, 1939 under the current contracts are exempt from the tax chargeable under Section 47 of the Finance Act, 1963, and no information is available in my Department as to the extent to which the expenditure of the Cork Health Authority is in respect of such transactions. On the assumption, however, that all purchases by the health authority were outside the scope of the 1939 Act mentioned, which is unlikely, so that the tax would be applicable without this exception, it is estimated that the increase resulting from the tax in a full year would amount to about £18,000 representing 0.6 per cent of the gross expenditure of the authority, amounting to about £3 millions.

Is the Tánaiste aware that the manager of the Cork Health Authority made an estimate last night that the turnover tax would mean an additional charge of 5d in the £ on the rates of Cork city?

I am not aware of it and I do not believe that the Deputy's information is correct.

Then you did not read your morning papers.

That statement is quite incorrect.