asked the Minister for Local Government if a farmer is entitled to the agricultural grant of £17 for an employee who has been absent from work through illness from accident for six weeks in the year in question and whose employment was continued immediately he was fit to return to work.

The grant of an employment allowance is a matter for each county council whose decision under section 8 (8) of the Rates on Agricultural Land (Relief) Act, 1939 is final and conclusive.