The remaining questions will appear on next Tuesday's Order Paper. I allowed a Private Notice Question in the name of Deputy Higgins but we have been informed that the matter was resolved.

I am sure my response should be as generous as that of the Chair. The matter that threatened thousands of jobs was resolved between the time I placed the Private Notice Question this morning and 2.30 p.m. when I was told the matter could be raised in the House. However, on a point of order, there is a matter which affects the Minister for the Environment. It is in connection with some questions I placed for written answer on Wednesday, 26 May. There were four questions that sought to assess the degree of housing need among local authorities. They asked for the number of housing applicants by age and sex but to all of the questions the simple reply I got was to the effect that "the information requested by the Deputy is not available to my Department". This raises a most crucial question. How am I to find out the degree of housing need in local authorities? The answer I have been given is that the information is not available in the Department and I find that extraordinary. It is incredible that local authorities would not return to the Department of the Environment the total number of tenants and housing applicants.

Would the Deputy like to raise the matter on the Adjournment?

Yes, I should like to do so. I regard it as a matter of grave public importance that we know the number of people in houses and those without houses. To my mind the kind of reply I received is a disgrace.

The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.