Vol. 413 No. 6
91 Mr Callely asked the Minister for Justice if he will outline (1) the location where uniforms which are used by all State and semi-State bodies under his Department are manufactured, (2) the source of supply and place of origin of materials used and (3) the total cost of supply and quantity of uniforms supplied in 1990.
All uniforms used by members of the Garda Síochána, and the prison service, traffic wardens and other persons employed by my Department or by bodies under their aegis are supplied under contracts awarded by the Govenment Supplies Agency on the basis of open tender competition and I understand that all such contracts in 1990 were placed with Irish firms. The total expenditure involved in the supply of such uniforms in 1990 was £1,357,000 approximately. The quantities involved were approximately 9,000 uniforms, 3,000 overcoats and additional supplies of individual items of uniform. In addition £77,590 was paid to senior members of the Garda Síochána by way of uniform allowance. The more detailed information sought in the question is not readily available to my Department and its compilation would require the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of staff time.
