asked the Minister for Finance if he can explain why travelling expenses in the nature of motor hire incurred by Presiding Officers and poll clerks in the discharge of their duties in the June Elections in the Midleton District have not yet been paid by the Returning Officer for East Cork; and further, if he is aware that there is a second liability in this respect for the September Elections; that some motor owners are pressing the officials for immediate payment; will the Minister undertake to have this matter set right without delay?
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - PRESIDING OFFICERS' EXPENSES.
The detailed examination of Returning Officers' election expenses accounts is a tedious and laborious task, and it has not yet been found possible to deal with the accounts submitted to my Department by the Returning Officer for the County Constituency of East Cork. I am, however, having the matter attended to with a view to early authorisation of payment of all outstanding claims.
Can the Minister say if payments have been made in any county?
The Returning Officers can make almost full payment of all claims if they like. In general they do not take the risk of making payments until the accounts have been passed by my Department, but advances are made to them from which they could make payments in cases where they were sure it would be all right.