asked the Minister for the Public Service if any progress has been made to bring Longford into the Western Development Board area.

The original announcement about the Western Development Board related to the non-Gaeltacht areas of Connaught and Donegal. The organisational arrangements for the establishment of the board are being developed by my Department in consultation with the other Departments concerned. As part of this process, the case for extending the board's administrative areas to include some adjoining counties such as Longford is being considered, but I am not yet in a position to make a definitive statement in the matter.

I am sure the Parliamentary Secretary as a Border Deputy is aware that conditions existing in north Longford are exactly the same as in the Connaught counties mentioned. I would like also to make the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the prosperity of south Longford is entirely overrated.

I am fully aware of the position particularly in relation to north Longford. The Deputy can rest assured that I will give every consideration to the suggestion that it should be taken into the area.

Question No. 14 has been withdrawn.