(Limerick East) asked the Minister for Finance when he expects the Revenue Commissioners to finalise arrangements with Bord Fáilte, to enable the business development (expansion) scheme to be extended to the tourist industry as indicated under section 10 of the Finance Act 1987.

Details of the extension of the business expansion scheme to export tourism are being finalised at present and will be announced as soon as possible by my erstwhile colleague, the Minister for Tourism and Transport.

(Limerick East): Will the Minister agree that this scheme has been unnecessarily delayed and that if it is not announced pretty soon, it will not benefit the tourist industry in 1988?

I accept what the Deputy says. To have it as quickly as possibly fairly detailed discussions are going on between Bord Fáilte, the Minister for Tourism and Transport and ourselves. We hope that in days rather than weeks we will have this matter finalised.

We will have Question No. 68 now and I hope also to deal with Deputy McDowell's question.

I doubt if the Chair will succeed although I know the Chair likes to make progress.