asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) the total cost of organising and holding An Tóstal for each year for which it has been held and the estimated cost of An Tóstal for this year, (b) the estimated number of tourists who have visited this country during the period of each year during which An Tóstal was held, and (c) the estimated extra number of tourists who visited this country each year as a result of the organisation of An Tóstal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - An Tóstal.
With regard to the first part of the question, information concerning the total expenditure from all sources in connection with An Tóstal is not available and could not be procured without undertaking inquiries of an unduly extensive character. Expenditure likely to be incurred in connection with this year's Tóstal by Bord Fáilte Éireann is estimated at £28,000 and by the Office of Public Works at £1,000. Corresponding expenditure in 1957 was £35,000 by Bord Fáilte Éireann and £1,000 by the Office of Public Works.
As regards expenditure in each of the years 1953 to 1956, I would refer the Deputy to the replies given to him in Dáil Éireann on 9th March, 1955, and 4th June, 1957.
With regard to the second and third parts of the question, official statistics of the numbers of tourists visiting this country during the period of An Tóstal are not available.