asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state the amount paid annually by local authorities in the Saorstát by way of pensions and superannuation allowances, according to the latest available returns.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - PENSIONS IN THE SAORSTAT.
The Deputy will understand that this information covers a very wide field. Owing to the extreme pressure in my Department on a very limited staff the collection of statistical information has been somewhat retarded. The destruction of records centrally and, in many instances, locally, has been an added difficulty. Some inevitable delay has also been caused by the transference of the functions and records of Boards of Guardians to County Boards of Health. The general compilation of data applicable to the financial year ended 31st March, 1924, is in progress. When it has sufficiently advanced to provide an accurate reply to the Deputy's question, I will at once communicate with him.