asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he proposes to establish a single comprehensive and easily accessible source of information regarding Irish expenditure on overseas development aid both in the bilateral side and through the EEC and international agencies.

: The Deputy will be aware that details of the annual allocation for Official Development Assistance (ODA) are provided in a press release issued each year by my Department when Estimates for the year in question have been decided. Information on ODA expenditure has not hitherto been made regularly available in a similar way, although this information is obtainable from a number of official sources. I can agree, therefore, with the suggestion that the break-down of expenditure on ODA should be available in one source and I would propose to do this by placing in the Library of the Houses of the Oireachtas each year a statement showing overall expenditure on ODA in the previous year and a break-down of the total out-turn under the various sub-heads. I cannot say when this could be done each year, as the final definitive figure of expenditure on one or two items in the multilateral area is usually not available for several months. I would expect, however, to be in a position to give the final out-turn on all items of expenditure as a rule before the summer Recess.

: I thank the Minister for his reply to that question which is welcome and I hope this will be done as soon as possible.

21.