asked the Minister for Local Government if he will explain why Donegal County Council advertised for the supply of new lorries, accepted tenders and subsequently abandoned the entire transaction; and if he will state the cost incurred by the council in (a) inviting tenders by way of newspaper advertisements, (b) having the tenders examined, and (c) all other expenses incidental to this transaction.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal Lorry Tenders.
25.
According to my information, the purchase of these lorries has not been abandoned by the Donegal County Council but merely deferred for the time being, and accordingly the questions raised by the Deputy do not arise.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary tell me why this delay occurred?
The credit squeeze.
It is not delay; it has been deferred.
Why has it been deferred?
That is a matter for the Donegal County Council.
I wish the Parliamentary Secretary would disclose the truth to the House. Is it not a fact that the banks refused to advance money to the county council to buy these lorries? Is that not so?
Tell the truth and shame the Government.
Is it not true that two garage companies have been left with five lorries on their hands?
The reason is that the Government have borrowed all the money the banks had to lend.
And the Government have no money themselves.
Economic expansion gone bust.