asked the Minister for Defence if having regard to the deterioration of some of the equipment used by Civil Defence, he will increase the rate of replacement of equipment and increase the allocation of money for the very worthy purpose of civil defence.

Provision for essential replacements of Civil Defence equipment is made as necessary in the annual Estimates for Defence. I am not aware that there has been any failure to replace unserviceable equipment due to inadequate financial provision. If the Deputy has any particular items of equipment in mind I shall be glad to look into the matter.

Is the Minister now saying that he has not refused to meet a portion of the applications made in recent times for Civil Defence equipment, because my information is that the requests for replacements have been refused by the Department and that some of the equipment is not only out of date but positively dangerous?

That is not the information I have. The answer I gave the Deputy is that I am not aware that there has been any failure to replace unserviceable equipment due to inadequate financial provision. The Deputy does not even say what kind of equipment.

If I get the information I will pass it on to the Minister.