asked the Minister for the Environment if he proposes to release county councils of their responsibility to allocate funds to ACOT, VEC and the Office of Public Works.

As indicated in the national economic plan Building on Reality, the restructuring of local finances has been under consideration by the Government and it has been decided that the proceeds of the farm tax will go to the local authorities. If further changes in the functions or financing of local authorities are decided on by the Government, they will be announced in due course.

Would the Minister of State agree that it will be some years before that comes into operation? Since the cutback in funding from central funds to local authorities and because local authorities have restricted bodies such as ACOT, the VEC and the OPW, there is friction within the counties over this which does not tend to harmonious working relations between bodies quibbling continually over this allocation.

I indicated to the Deputy in my reply that there is a commitment to restructure local finances. That will be done and all of this will be taken into account. All that will not be done piecemeal but in a package.

It is two years in the package. Where is the Minister today? Is he afraid to come in?

No, the Minister is in the House. These are areas of my responsibility.

Oh, I see. Since when?