asked the Minister for Finance if he will state (a) the number of savings clubs promoted by the Savings Committee where savings are actually being undertaken, (b) the total number of participants and the general location of the movement, and (c) how many meetings of the committee have taken place since its formation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Savings Promotion Campaign.
To date, five meetings of the committee have taken place. As regards the remainder of the Deputy's question, I have to say that the savings promotion work carried out by the committee up to the present is directed to the country as a whole, and has been mainly general in character, aimed at inducing individuals to save while leaving them free to choose among the various facilities for savings which are available.
Inquiries concerning the establishment of savings groups have been received from a number of firms and explanatory literature has been issued. Efforts by the chairman and members of the committee to increase group savings in particular firms or localities have also been successful. It is not, however, possible to define the results of the committee's activities in terms of numbers of savings clubs or of savers.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will state (a) the number of officers employed to operate the savings promotion campaign now and 12 months ago, (b) the total grant available for all forms of savings promotion for the current and the past financial year, and (c) what remarkable changes have taken place in regard to advertising by films, advertisements, posters or broadcasting.
The information requested by the Deputy is as follows:—
(a) One officer was employed part-time 12 months ago; at present there are three officers, two of whom are employed full-time on this work, including the work of the Savings Committee.
(b) Departmental expenditure on savings promotion in 1955-56 was £9,800; the provision for the current financial year is £20,150.
(c) A series of broadcast talks has been delivered by the chairman and members of the Savings Committee. The sponsored broadcast programme and other advertising by posters, etc., have also been continued. The Savings Committee have under consideration the production of a new savings film and are preparing new savings literature for distribution to employers, workers and schools.