Vol. 257 No. 8
asked the Minister for Finance the cost of Christmas cards and greetings sent by him and his Parliamentary Secretary in 1970; if postage was provided free by his Department and, if so, the cost in each case; and the estimated cost of cards on order this year and if the cards will be sent free of charge.
59.
andMr. L'Estrange asked the Minister for Finance the projected cost to the Exchequer during the financial year 1971-72 of the sending of Christmas cards by him and his Parliamentary Secretary.
60.
andMr. L'Estrange asked the Minister for Finance the total number of hours during which civil servants were engaged in sending Christmas cards from him and his Parliamentary Secretary in 1970; and the projected corresponding number for 1971.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to answer Questions Nos. 58, 59 and 60 together.
The cost of official Christmas greeting cards sent by me in 1970 was £128.15. It is estimated that the cost of official Christmas greeting cards this year will be £194.82. The cost of cards sent by me as Minister for the Gaeltacht has been included in both these figures.
As regards the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance the cost of Christmas cards sent in 1970 was £28.25. It is estimated that the cost of cards to be sent this year will be of the same order.
Officially provided Christmas cards are dispatched as Departmental post and there is no separate postage record.
Work relating to the cards is integrated with the normal work of the staff and it is not possible to estimate the time involved. It would however be small.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary think that Mr. Colley, The Minister for Finance, will send a Christmas card this year to Mr. Charles Haughey?
That is a separate question.
It is a very important one. I should like to know if they are talking now.
