Vol. 257 No. 8
asked the Minister for Health the cost of Christmas cards and greetings sent by him in 1970; if postage was provided free by his Department and, if so, the cost; and the estimated cost of cards on order this year and if the cards will be sent free of charge.
14.
andMr. L'Estrange asked the Minister for Health the projected cost to the Exchequer during the financial year 1971-72 of the sending of Christmas cards by him.
15.
andMr. L'Estrange asked the Minister for Health the total number of hours during which civil servants were engaged in sending Christmas cards from him in 1970 and the projected corresponding number for 1971.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 14 and 15 together.
The cost in 1970 amounted to £58.75. The postage was provided free by my Department. The accounting procedure is that each Department is charged an annual sum in respect of postage, and the cost of individual items is not ascertainable. However, on the basis of normal postal charges the cost would have been about £27. The cost of cards on order is estimated to be about £200 and the same arrangements will obtain in regard to postage.
The cost figures given include envelopes but not staff time. The dispatch of the cards is integrated into the normal routine duties of the staff in my office and it would not be possible to give an estimate of the time involved.
Might I ask the Minister for Health and other Ministers will they ensure, when they are sending Christmas cards, that cards are not sent to people who are dead because the postmen cannot deliver them.
That is a separate question.
I have no knowledge of that.
Would the Minister say if it is a fact that Deputy O.J. Flanagan on the occasion when free post was introduced brought in a tea chest filled with 5,000 envelopes to be posted and, after they were posted, he then sold the tea chest to an usher?
Would the Minister be able to give us any idea of the cost of the total number of hours spent by civil servants in his Department in assembling this childish information?
That is a separate question.
In reply to the Deputy, this did take some time but I want to make it absolutely clear that, so far as I am concerned, my conscience is completely free in regard to expenditure on Christmas cards and I make no apology to anybody in the House in regard to it.
(Cavan): Surely the Minister will agree that it is a bit ridiculous and a bit pointless to send Christmas cards to people who are dead?
I have not said I sent Christmas cards to such people.
(Cavan): It has happened.
