asked the Minister for Lands if he will state what was the amount of stock in hands at the various depôts of the rural industries at (a) March 31st, 1937, and (b) March 31st, 1938.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Stock in Rural Industries Depôts.
The value of the stock of materials and finished goods at the Central Marketing Depôt and the rural industrial centres on 31st March, 1937, was £28,389 14s. 7d.; the stock as at 31st March, 1938, has been taken, but it will be some little time before the value is ascertained.
Arising out of the reply, will the Parliamentary Secretary postpone the Estimate for the Gaeltacht Services until that figure is available?
I do not think it will be necessary to postpone the Estimate. The figure will be made available for the information of Deputies, it is hoped, in the course of a few weeks' time. There will be no avoidable delay in making the figure available to them.
I think last year the Minister admitted that discussing the Estimate without the result of the year's trading savoured somewhat of putting the cart before the horse. I think if the Parliamentary Secretary looks back on the record he will find that that was more or less agreed to, but, apparently, it is now going to become the normal practice.