asked the Minister for Finance the annual indebtedness of the agricultural community for each of the years 1972 to 1976 to the banks, ACC and hire purchase companies.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate the reply in tabular form in the Official Report. The table does not include hire purchase data for non-associated banks or hire purchase companies as such information is not available. Following is the table:—

AMOUNTS owed by the Agricultural Community at year end.

*For Banks, year ending May; for A.C.C. year ending April.