Vol. 257 No. 11
asked the Minister for Local Government 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.
39.
andMr. L'Estrange asked the Minister for Local Government the projected cost to the Exchequer during the financial year 1971-72 of the sending of Christmas cards by him and his Parliamentary Secretary.
40.
andMr. L'Estrange asked the Minister for Local Government 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 take Questions Nos. 38, 39 and 40 together.
The cost of Christmas cards sent by the Minister in 1970 was £178 16s 6d. The estimated cost of cards on order for 1971 is £180. In the case of the Parliamentary Secretary, the cost of cards sent in 1970 was £112 3s 0d. The cost of cards on order for 1971 is £86 approximately.
Postage was arranged by the Department but the actual cost involved cannot be calculated as the charge for the Department's postal services is a fixed sum, and items are not paid for individually. The same arrangements for postage will apply this year.
It is not possible to give the total number of hours during which civil servants were engaged in sending these Christmas cards in 1970 or 1971, but no extra cost for Civil Service time arises.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary explain why the cost of postage cannot be calculated in his Department and it is given in reply to a similar question by the Department of Agriculture?
There is a package agreement for all postage.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the Minister for Defence told us that the staff spent 35 hours on it and he also gave us the full cost? Is the Parliamentary Secretary sending a card this year to——
Mulcahy.
Not at all. Never mind Mulcahy. He is well able to look after himself. Is he sending one to Neil Blaney this year? I heard they are not on talking terms but perhaps if he sent him a card——
Is this a supplementary or a separate question?
Order. Question No. 41.
Mulcahy is in Taca. Let Fianna Fáil look after him and he will look after them. We do not want to have anything to do with tacateers. racketeers, lay speakers or any of those.
