asked the Minister for Justice if the making available of the sweepstakes moneys for hospital extensions can be speeded up in order that work may be made available for building trade operatives of whom a large number are unemployed, and at what date the various balances from past sweeps will be distributed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Proceeds of Sweepstakes.
I am bound by the Statute not to distribute the proceeds of any Hospitals Sweepstake until I have—
(a) received the report of the Reference Committee;
(b) consulted the Minister for Local Government and Public Health;
(c) "considered" the report.
The proceeds of every sweep as regards which a report has been received have already been distributed except in one case, viz., the Sweep on the Grand National, 1932. In the case of that Sweep, I have received the report which is at present receiving the consideration of the Minister for Local Government and Public Health.
I have not yet received the report on the Derby, 1932. I may perhaps remind the Deputy that the reports themselves emphasise very strongly the undesirability of spending these moneys at once on extensions.