asked the Minister for Defence when he proposes to provide funds for a fire engine for Monaghan civil defence auxiliary fire service.

The position is that my Department have taken delivery recently of three fire appliances for the civil defence auxiliary fire service and there is a fourth appliance on order. Delivery of the fourth appliance is expected in the very near future. A decision about the allocation of these appliances will be made shortly and the factors which support the case for allocating one of them to Monaghan civil defence auxiliary fire service will be fully taken into account.

I am glad to get that information. I appeal to the Minister to give the Monaghan civil defence auxiliary fire service special consideration because they are a very effective and efficient unit. Is the Minister aware that two years ago they won the all-Ireland competition with a borrowed unit. Since then they had high expectations of getting a unit of their own.

I will be keeping Monaghan, and other counties, in mind. I will take the Deputy's representations into consideration.

Will the Minister agree that the Monaghan unit has a strong case?

Everybody who makes representations feels he has a strong case.