asked the Minister for Agriculture the total number of Land Commission inspectors; and the number at present transferred to land tax sections.

The total number of Land Commission inspectors is 135, of whom 91 have been seconded by the Department of Finance to undertake the assessment of adjusted areas for the proposed farm tax.

(Limerick West): Will the Minister indicate where the Land Commission inspectors have come from?

They have come from all over Ireland. I cannot pinpoint where each inspector came from but they came from the area offices.

What progress has been made in the adjusting of the acreage for the land tax?

That is a separate question.

Surely it arises out of the question before the House? I should like to know before 20 June if the full programme will be in force.

Will the Minister agree that the change means that 44 inspectors will be operating in the 26 Counties? Is that an adequate number to deal with sub-division applications, not to talk about the division of land and allotment?

The fact that 91 inspectors have been seconded to the Department of Finance does not mean that they are not actively involved in land reallocation. For obvious reasons they are not at the moment starting on the land assessment. Many of them are still working with the Land Commission.

When will the 91 inspectors move over and devote their time fully to assessing land on an adjusted acreage basis?

That is a matter for another Minister and I cannot answer it.

(Limerick West): Will the Minister indicate the type of training involved for these Land Commission inspectors?

No; that does not have anything to do with my Department.