asked the Minister for Local Government whether the Government have yet given any consideration to the Interim Report of the Commission on Reconstruction and Development dealing with roads; whether it has yet been decided to take any action on the lines recommended in the Report; and if not, whether, in view of the urgency of the matter both in respect of the condition of roads and in respect of the need of relieving unemployment, that he can undertake that a decision will be arrived at speedily.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. [ ORAL ANSWERS. ] - RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Deputy may feel assured that the present condition of the roads and the extent of existing unemployment are fully realised.
Any action on the lines of the Interim Report would necessarily be conditioned by the extent to which the large sums of money proposed for expenditure would be available. The Report is also being considered by the Minister for Finance.
Can the Minister tell us when the Report, which was promised to be circulated, is likely to be circulated to Deputies?
I am afraid I have nothing to do with that. The Reconstruction Committee acts under the Minister for Industry and Commerce, and a copy of the Report is forwarded to me. I do not think I have anything to do with the actual publication of it, and it is a matter for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce that the Report be sent to the Deputies.
I realise that, but the President, as Minister for Finance, promised that it would be circulated—that copies of a paper which had, as a matter of fact, been printed would be circulated. It has not yet been circulated.
I presume that will be done.