asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the amount of issues for supply services in respect of Supplementary Estimates during the current financial year to the latest available date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supply Services Issues.
Issues for supply services amounted to £79,877,590 on 8th March, 1952. This includes approximately £5,100,000 that can be identified as being in respect of Supplementary Estimates. On this matter generally I would refer the Deputy to my reply to his question of 27th February last and, in particular, to the last paragraph thereof in which I stressed that in many cases the provisions made by way of Supplementary Estimate are drawn upon only in the final weeks of the financial year. It is, in fact, only within a day or two of the close of the financial year that the total amount to be issued from each Vote can be accurately assessed.