asked the Minister for Local Government the total indebtedness of the (a) local authorities and (b) municipal authorities of Ireland at the latest available date.

12.

asked the Minister for Local Government the total indebtedness of the local authorities, excluding harbour authorities, vocational education committees and county committees of agriculture, as at 31st March 1966; and the amount of interest on stocks and loans paid by these authorities during the year ended 31st March, 1966.

I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 11 and 12 together.

The total indebtedness of all local authorities, excluding harbour authorities, vocational education committees and committees of agriculture, at 31st March, 1966, is estimated at £195.25 million. £109.51 million of this sum is in respect of municipal authorities.

The total amount of interest on loans, including dividends on stocks, paid by local authorities in the year ended 31st March, 1966, is estimated at £9.56 million.

Is the Minister aware that the total indebtedness of the country, plus the local authorities and the corporations, is £909 million? Could he inform us when this country intends to pay its way or if it ever intends so to do?

The assets are good.

Where are they? You had not got them when you were going over to England and America, hawking the credit of this country, for a small loan. They were not good then. You may think they were but others did not.

They are well mortgaged now.

We are in the pawn.