asked the Minister for the Public Service if he will extend the date for the receipt of submissions on the allocation of responsibility for inland transport functions.

: The allocation of responsibility for inland transport functions is being examined by an interdepartmental working group who will report to me. The group have recently extended the original closing date of 11 February 1983, for receipt of submissions from regional development organisations, to 14 March 1983. I do not consider that a further formal extension of this date would be warranted. Submissions received within a reasonable period of the new date would, however, be of value to the group since their examination would not be completed for some time thereafter.

: Can the Minister say if, in addition to submissions from regional development organisations, submissions from local authorities are being considered?

: There is reference to local authorities in, for example, The Way Forward. This seems to have given rise to fears on the part of some local authorities that there was some question of diminution of their powers or functions. This is very unlikely and the function of the transport group will be to provide the framework in which appropriate overall relationships between the centre and the local authorities will be established on a more efficient footing. The Deputy need not have any fears.

: The Minister said that local authorities need not have any fears in regard to the work of this commission and that it will not interfere with the role or authority of local authorities as exercised at present, but I should like to know if the Minister is aware that the secretary of the body concerned has written to the Galway county manager informing him that it would come within the remit of the committee to consider whether a national roads authority should be established. If that is so local authorities have a great reason to fear recommendations of that committee because it could diminish the responsibilities of local authorities as they operate at present.

: The question deals with an extension of the time for making submissions and the fact that the body has been named does not give scope for a debate on the organisation in question.

: I have asked the Minister to clarify what he has said in the House.

: This group was set up by the former Government and is mentioned in The Way Forward. If the Deputy felt strongly about this matter at that time he should have made his objections known to the relevant people then.

: I should like to ask the Minister——

: The Minister may be as much to blame as any other Member but I must tell the Deputy that we cannot have a debate on the matter now.

: I am anxious to ask a question.

: Let it be in order. The question asks the Minister for the Public Service if he will extend the date for the receipt of submissions and that is all it is about. A full debate on the merits or demerits of the group concerned is not in order.

: The Minister has informed the House that local authorities need not have any fears and I have told him that if he is not aware of the correspondence which has passed between the Galway county manager and the secretary of this body he should make himself so aware.