The Minister has stated that he is not in a position to include this in the 1985 Estimate because the legislation has not been passed by the Dáil and I accept that. Would this require a Supplementary Estimate for his Department and will he indicate if he has made some estimates? He has studied the matter for the last two and a half years and I feel sure that his advisers and his Department have advised him of the estimated cost to the Department of setting up stations or organising the Independent Local Radio Authority.

Of course, some exercises have been done on possible costs, but I cannot anticipate legislation yet to be enacted by this and the other House. The costs that would be involved depend very much on the outcome of that legislation and the time element.