asked the Minister for the Marine the estimated amount that his Department will pay to Telecom Éireann and An Post during 1987 for services rendered; if it is possible to make savings in these areas of expenditure; and if he will give the corresponding figures for the 1986 outturn.
Written Answers. - Telephone and Postal Costs.
146.
It is estimated that during 1987 the Department of the Marine will pay £138,000 to Telecom Éireann and £30,000 to An Post for services rendered. These figures are for the Fisheries Division of the former Department of Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry for the whole of 1987 and for the Marine Division formerly in the Department of Communications for the period 1 April 1987 to 31 December 1987.
While it is not possible to arrive at a figure for 1986 for all the divisions that now form the Department of the Marine, £93,000 was paid to Telecom Éireann and £50,000 to An Post for services provided to Fisheries Division during that period. The Department will continue to do its best to reduce expenditure in these and other areas. In fact, the £130,000 included in the original estimate for Fisheries Division for 1987 represents a decrease of about 9 per cent on the amount actually spent in 1986.