asked the Minister for Finance the total sums included in the current year's capital budget paid out up to 1st January 1971; and the percentage of the capital budget that this represents.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Capital Budget.
33.
The total amount paid out up to 1st January, 1971 was about £124 million or 55 per cent of the capital budget for 1970-71.
However, those figures were affected by the bank dispute. The corresponding figures up to 1st February, 1971 are £156 million or 70 per cent.
Does the Minister not agree that, with three-quarters of the financial year gone, the figure, even allowing for the bank dispute, of only 55 per cent paid out indicates that the Government are holding up money, that even the figure of 70 per cent on the 1st February further indicates, with only two months to go, that the Government are holding up money?
Not alone does it not indicate that but even if it were to suggest such it would be untrue. We are not holding up money.
I wish the Minister were on a local authority and he would find out.
With the banks closed, where did the Government get the money this year?
I require notice of that question.
The printing presses were busy.