Vol. 415 No. 7
15 Dr. McDaid asked the Minister for Finance if it is possible to give an estimate of the approximate cost on average to research and answer a Parliamentary Question; and if he will outline the number of staff involved and their respective grades.
A precise answer to the Deputy's question would necessitate detailed costings and investigation of a representative sample of answers prepared in all Departments. Such an exercise, in addition to involving substantial expenditure, could not be carried out during the short period between the tabling of the Deputy's question and today.
However, the cost of answering Parliamentary Questions was examined in 1982. An extensive survey of Government Departments at that time revealed that the average cost of answering a Parliamentary Question was about £40. Based on the general level of inflation since 1982, the equivalent cost in 1992 would be about £64.
