andMr. Fox asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the projected cost of the referdum to be held on 7th December, 1972.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Referendum Cost.
32.
The estimated cost of the referenda to be held on 7th December next is £190,000.
Can the Minister state the amount of advertising which will form part of that cost? How does he arrive at the figure?
I have not a breakdown that would reveal that.
Would it be Government advertising?
The only advertising involved would be the ordinary notices giving details of polling stations and that kind of thing.
The Government will not be undertaking advertising?
No.
Would it not be advisable to advertise more?
I do not quite follow what the Deputy has in mind.
(Cavan): If the Minister has the information could he compare the cost of this referendum with the cost of the two previous referenda?
We have not got the final figures for the last referendum yet. All the returns have not yet been made. The cost of the 1968 referendum was £115,000.
(Cavan): It has gone up by £75,000.
It is estimated that the cost of the EEC referendum was about £140,000, but we have not got the final figures yet.
Is it not a fact that "Honest Jack's" photograph took most of the money at that time?
Not alone is it not a fact but the Deputy knows it is not a fact.