asked the Minister for Finance if he has any figures of public sales of 1916 commemoration coins; and whether any arrangements have been made with Irish embassies in countries with large Irish contingents to give these people an opportunity of purchasing coins.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - 1916 Commemoration Coins.
2.
Mr. O'Leary
452,600 pieces of the 1916 commemorative coin have been issued to the public. External demand has amounted to a further total of 40,000 coins.
Copies of a press notice which was released by the Central Bank giving details of the coin and how it could be obtained were circulated by the Department of External Affairs to all Irish missions and offices abroad including those with large Irish communities in their areas. Furthermore, particulars of the commemorative coin and information on arrangements for obtaining it from the Central Bank were included in the issue dated 1st March, 1966, of the weekly Bulletin Ireland of the Department of External Affairs. Copies of the weekly Bulletin are widely distributed by the missions and offices abroad to prominent Irish persons and societies and also to important newspapers and journals.