asked the Minister for Local Government the number of purchase houses built or in the course of being built for Dublin Corporation at Tallaght, County Dublin; when these houses will be offered to the public; and the method of allocation of these houses.

No purchase house have been built for Dublin Corporation at Tallaght to date and there are no such houses under construction at present.

Then, can the Minister state who is building them?

No.

Are there any in contemplation?

I was not asked that question.

Would the Minister answer the question?

I was asked the number of purchase houses built or in the course of being built.

Are any in contemplation?

If I am asked that question I shall answer it.

The Minister does not want the people to know.

Is the Minister aware that Dublin Corporation have stated that they propose to have houses built for them in Tallaght and that there has been a tremendous amount of inquiry about it and that that was the reason for my question?

The Deputy should have made that clear.

Will the Minister answer that question now?

No. When the Deputy puts down a question, I shall answer it.

What a genial man.

Deputy O'Connell always puts down questions he does not want answered. He should put down questions he wants answered.

The Minister understands words of only one syllable.