asked the Minister for Health if he will ascertain and state, having regard to quality, the estimated cost per food item per head per week, at current Dublin retail prices, of the items listed in the Dublin Board of Assistance dietary scales which were given in a reply on 30th October, 1957.
Written Answers. - Dublin Board of Assistance Dietary Scales.
I have no figures for average Dublin retail prices for a date later than mid-August last. The information requested by the Deputy, based on mid-August figures, is as follows:—
|
Children |
Adults |
|||
|
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
|
|
Bread |
1 |
5¾ |
2 |
11½ |
|
Milk |
6 |
0¼ |
3 |
4¾ |
|
Butter |
2 |
0¼ |
1 |
10½ |
|
Tea |
2½ |
11¼ |
||
|
Sugar |
2¾ |
2½ |
||
|
Cocoa, etc. |
4½ |
9½ |
||
|
Rice/Tapioca, etc. |
3¼ |
½ |
||
|
Flake Meal or Oatmeal |
3 |
6 |
||
|
Eggs |
1 |
3 |
5 |
|
|
Fish |
8 |
8 |
||
|
Potatoes |
1 |
0 |
1 |
8 |
|
Peas |
— |
1¾ |
||
|
Onions |
1½ |
1 |
Figures in respect of vegetables other than potatoes, peas and onions, are not readily available. In regard to meat, the cost would depend on the cuts used which vary from day to day. Further much of the meat is bought in carcase form and consequently a retail price cannot readily be ascertained. It is estimated, however, that in the case of adults, if all meat of the dearer types and cuts were issued in any week the approximate cost at retail prices would be 4/6d. and if all meat of the cheaper types and cuts were issued the figures would be about 3/-. The weekly cost would lie between these figures. The cost in the case of children would lie approximately within the same range.