asked the Minister for Finance if he will state (a) the expenditure abroad in member countries of the O.E.E.C. outside the sterling area by Irish travellers in the year 1951; (b) the number of such travellers; (c) the average expenditure of such travellers, excluding travelling expenses incurred in sterling, and (d) the total expenditure estimated at the rate of £25 per head by such number of travellers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Expenditure by Irish Abroad.
I assume that the Deputy's question refers only to the basic (or holiday) travel allowance and excludes the foreign currency element in the travel tickets purchased by such holiday travellers before departure.
While the total amount of basic allowances granted in 1951 is known, it is not possible to give separate figures for individual countries or groups of countries. The vast bulk of the expenditure, however, was incurred in O.E.E.C. countries. The number of travellers or their average expenditure are not statistically recorded in my Department. The following replies to the Deputy's queries represent the best estimates available, viz., (a) £870,000; (b) 20,000; (c) £43.5; (d) £500,000.