asked the Minister for Defence the amount of extra allowance per day given to (a) each officer, (b) each NCO and (c) each man who was on duty in Dublin in connection with the 1963 bus strike, the total amount paid under this heading, and the date on which the payment was made.

The amount of extra allowance per day to each NCO and private who was on duty in Dublin in connection with the 1963 bus strike was 52/6d per week, or 7/6d per day, in respect of a broken week, to drivers and conductors, drivers on supervisory or special duties, and queue controllers, and 35/- per week, or 5/- per day, in respect of a broken week, to NCOs and privates associated with the work in certain other respects.

The total amount paid to NCOs and privates in the Dublin area was £4,325. The first payment was made on Friday, 26th April, 1963 and included arrears from the 9th April, 1963. Subsequent payments were included in the normal weekly pay.

A gratuity of 5/- per day has been authorised for each officer engaged on the transport arrangements, and payment of the amount is in course of being made. The cost of the gratuities payable to officers in the Dublin area is estimated at £225.

Could the Minister say why there was such great delay in having payment made to officers in view of the fact that he gave a reply to the late Deputy Norton very many months ago stating that such a gratuity was to be paid?

I think in previous cases there was no payment for officers at all. This is the first time such a payment was made.

But the Minister did tell the late Deputy Norton several months ago that payment would be made to the officers.