asked the Minister for Finance if he has received an application from the Corporation of Dublin for funds to meet the cost of resiting the Dublin civic offices away from the site of the national monument section of the Wood Quay area and the contents of his reply, if any, to this request.

My Department received a letter from the corporation, to which I replied on 28 September, requesting a guarantee of financial support in the event of a decision to desist from present building plans at Wood Quay. My reply was acknowledged by the corporation on 4 October, with an indication that its contents will be placed before the next appropriate meeting of the city council.

I understand that the next meeting of the city council will be on 5 November. It would not appear to be proper for me in the meantime to divulge the contents of my letter.