Tairgim:

Go ndeonófar suim forlíontach nach mó ná £3,000,000 chun íochta an mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar crioch an 31ú lá de Nollaig, 1982, le haghaidh tuarastail agus costais Roinn na Gaeltachta, maille le deontais le haghaidh tithe agus ildeontais-i-gcabhair.

Could the Minister explain in what respect this Supplementary Estimate was necessary?

It is to meet some of the capital required for Údarás na Gaeltachta. I understand part of the money will be made available to enable them to take shares and so on and part for normal voted capital grants. It is all of that nature.

Why is it necessary to introduce a Supplementary Estimate at this time? The Estimate itself was discussed in the last three weeks?

Because I understand that on the basis of the latest available information an tÚdarás would not have sufficient capital funds for the various projects that may arise and that some of the proposals could entail the creation of several hundred additional jobs. For that reason it is considered that funds should be made available.

Is this money part of the repayable advances to an tÚdarás and is the Minister satisfied that these advances have not reached the statutory limit of £50 million set in the Údarás na Gaeltachta Act?

I understand they do not exceed the appropriate limit and that some of them would be in the form of repayable advances.

Cuireadh agus aontaíodh an Vóta.