asked the Minister for Defence the cost to date of the army units made available to the United Nations for service in the Congo.
92.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cost of Army Units in Congo.
91.
asked the Minister for Defence how much of the cost of the army units made available to the United Nations for service in the Congo is borne by the United Nations, and how much by the Exchequer.
With your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions 91 and 92 together.
Pursuant to the general financial arrangements governing the apportionment of costs in respect of the army units provided by participating Governments it is proposed, in general, to claim from the United Nations the various items of expenditure incurred in respect of the Irish Contingent over and above the expenditure which would have been incurred in the normal course. Details of the additional expenditure incurred so far are at present being compiled by my Department with a view to the presentation of an initial claim.
Pending the completion of this work it is not possible to state the total cost to date, requested by the Deputy. The cost of the normal pay and allowances of the personnel concerned, which will be a final charge on the Vote for Defence, amounts, however, to approximately £8,400 a week.