asked the Minister for the Environment when he proposes to deal with the recommendations contained in Report No. 1 of An Foras Forbartha dealing with the problems of delays and expenses associated with private house purchase transactions.

I have already raised, and I am pursuing with the bodies concerned, the question of the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report referred to by the Deputy.

Will the Minister tell the House if the relevant Departments, Justice, Finance and the Environment, have responded to the recommendations in relation to the bridging interest and the question of changes in conveyancing laws?

Replies have been received from the Construction Industry Federation and the Departments of Justice and Agriculture. Replies are outstanding but expected soon from the Department of Finance and the Incorporated Law Society.

Have the Incorporated Law Society responded to any of the suggestions in the report?

We are awaiting a reply from the Incorporated Law Society.

I should like to draw the attention of the House to the fact that it is almost 18 months since that report was published.

I am treating this matter as urgent.