asked the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Tourism the functions of the Joint Committee on Game Management, the members and organisations represented thereon; if he will give all relevant details on their brief; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The Joint Committee on Game Development was established in 1966 with the aim of realising the full potential of tourist shooting by assisting in the development of tourist shoots, promoting and marketing them and giving grants to private promoters. The committee comprise officials of the Forest and Wildlife Service of my Department and Bord Fáilte. The committee meet periodically — on average about three times a year over the past five years. I am having the future role of the committee re-examined at present.

Can the Minister give us any indication of the amount of money spent by the committee?

No, I was not asked for that information and I have not got it.

Is it big or small?

I gave the grants they got.

What is their expenditure? What is their budget?

All I can give is what I was asked for and that is the grants made available to them.

How much is that?

I will tell the Deputy again. Total grants in the order of £10,000 per annum were provided over a period of 15 years. They were withdrawn in 1982. That was the position.