andMr. L'Estrange asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of claims submitted by the Republic to the British Government on foot of damages to Irish property by British fighting services; and what steps he has taken in the matter.

We have received no request to submit claims of this nature to the British Government. Presumably the claimants are, in the first instance, individually seeking compensation through one of the options open to them.

Will the Minister tell us what options are open to them? Does he not consider it better that the State should deal with those claims instead of individuals dealing with them?

The options open are malicious injury claims against county councils and claims against the claims department of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Belfast. I understand claims have been made directly but I do not see at present any evidence of people being frustrated in attempts to make claims. They have not come to us seeking any other way and, therefore, the options open must not have been found wanting.

Would the Minister not consider it more advisable that the Department of Foreign Affairs should deal with these claims on behalf of the individuals instead of the persons concerned having to make their own claims?

I have told the Deputy that if there are options open and methods of making claims it is better that they should be followed. It is only where these prove unsatisfactory that we should reconsider the matter.

Is there not any established international practice for matters such as this?

The answer we have at the moment is that there are options available and they are being used. If we need to go further we can consider the matter again.