asked the Minister for Labour the cost to the redundancy fund of the closure of Irish Board Mills Limited, Athy, County Kildare.

To date £44,786.52 has been paid from the fund in lump sums to 85 employees. In addition, weekly payments are being paid to most of these employees.

The final figure for lump sums and weekly payments will be communicated to the Deputy in due course.

Was the Minister's Department notified in accordance with the Act of the impending closure of this concern?

Yes.

Was the Minister in contact with other Department at that time as to the prior notification they received?

While it is a separate question, for the Deputy's information, that is exactly so. Strenuous efforts were made by the Government in this situation, but unfortunately if bad management existed there we could not be responsible for the ultimate closure.

Could the Minister say from memory when he was informed of the reasons for the closedown, whether he and his colleagues, the Minister for Industry Commerce and Energy and the Minister for Finance with a responsibility for giving funds to this firm——

These questions do not arise out of the question on the Order Paper.

——held consultations and whether consultations were held with other Departments at the time When the Minister was informed in accordance with the Act of the impending closure?

Consultations were held between the Department and even with the Department of Fisheries and Forestry, which we also got involved.