asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the total sum of money paid, or due to be paid, by his Department by way of disturbance allowances; the nature of the disturbance for which such payments are to be made or have been made; and the nature of any outstanding claims for payment of such allowance.

The total sum involved is £1.25 million. The allowances have been paid in respect of the initial occupation by staff of new premises. All outstanding claims are of a similar kind.

Can the Minister confirm that disturbance allowance has been sought or claimed for a move of a mile or less by members of his Department? Can he confirm that no such new claims will be acceptable to his Department and that An Bord Telecom and An Bord Poist have been advised or will be given a directive not to grant payments of disturbance allowance on their assuming responsibility for the different sections of the Department being transferred to them?

I am aware of the Government's decision in relation to claims for disturbance allowance. The £1.25 million that I referred to in the reply are payments that have already been made to staff for disturbance on movement from one place to another.

I have a final supplementary.

A final supplementary.

Regarding the £1.25 million which the Minister referred to, can he indicate how much of that has been paid in respect of moves by employees of his Department of a mile or less from their previous place of work?

I do not have that information. The Deputy will appreciate that it is rather detailed and if he had asked me for it possibly I would have been able to get it for him.

Will the Minister consider claims lodged before the embargo was placed by the Minister for the Public Service in relation to claims for disturbance allowance?

I presume they will be considered but it is not up to me to make a decision on it.