asked the Minister for Finance the stage his Department are at in preparing a new format for the financial accounts of the State in order that these are more easily read by TDs, Senators and members of the public, in view of comments made on the layout of the accounts by the Committee of Public Accounts.

I understand that the Deputy raised the matter of the format of the annual finance accounts with the accounting officer of my Department at a meeting of the Committee of Public Accounts in February 1988 and that this is the subject of the Deputy's question.

The format of the finance accounts has been under review in order to make them more easily comprehensible and a start was made on this in the 1987 accounts with the inclusion of a new format for the account dealing with Exchequer receipts and expenditure and a new summary of the national debt statement. The review is continuing in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General; a working party of officials from his office and my Department have been set up for the purpose of making further presentational improvements in future accounts.

I would, of course, welcome any views Members of the House might have on the subject and I will convey them to the working party for consideration.