asked the Minister for Local Government the number of houses allotted by Dublin Corporation to those on the housing list in October, 1968.

35.

asked the Minister for Local Government the number of flats allotted by Dublin Corporation to those on the housing list in October, 1968.

I propose with your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 34 and 35 together.

I am informed by Dublin Corporation that during October, 1968, 113 houses and 171 flats were allotted for renting by them to persons on the approved waiting list.

Would the Minister indicate, at that rate of allocation, how many years it will take to solve the present housing crisis?

It would be ridiculous to make any such estimate on the basis of one month's allocation. It would be only somebody like Deputy O'Connell who would attempt anything so ridiculous.

Is the Minister aware that Dublin Corporation are already in the process of revising the waiting list? Does he know what is going on?

I am aware of that.

Has he any information about it?

Of course, I have. I was not asked for that.

Would the Minister ask Deputy O'Connell to give these people an injection?

That is not a supplementary question.

Is the Minister aware that there are almost 3,000 dwellings under construction at the moment by Dublin Corporation?

Is he aware that there are 20,552 people on the waiting list?

The question I was asked was the number of houses allotted during October, 1968, and the number of flats allotted during October, 1968, and I answered that question.

Where did the Deputy get the 20,000?

It was the Minister's own statement.

The Minister never made any such statement. These figures are conjured up out of the Deputy's own mind.

I would advise the Minister to check the figures and see if they are right.

If Deputy O'Connell is on speaking terms with any member of Dublin Corporation I suggest he should get the correct figures from him.

I should like to tell the Minister for Local Government now that there are 20,552 people on the housing list.

Are any of the Ministers on speaking terms now?

That figure includes men, women and children. We are dealing with applications.

We cannot conduct Question Time on the basis of a discussion across the floor of the House. There are about 200 questions for answer. If the Chair cannot have the co-operation of Deputies——

And Ministers.

I do not think there is any reason for the suggestion that the Minister is not co-operating. I have had the opportunity of answering only a fraction of the many supplementaries that have been directed to me.

You can talk to them afterwards when you come out.

They are just as much entitled to ask supplementaries. I do not think Standing Orders confine the raising of supplementary questions to Deputy O'Connell or to Labour Party Deputies.