asked the Taoiseach if he will state in detail how the expenditure from tourists is calculated in the analysis of the balance of international payments with particular reference to the amount spent on accommodation, food, travel and purchases of goods.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tourists' Expenditure.
6.
As I indicated in reply to a similar question by Deputy McQuillan on 27th February, 1958, a full description of the method of estimation of the country's earnings from tourism and travel and the corresponding expenditure outside the country by Irish residents is given in the article "Tourist and Other Travel Receipts and Expenditure", published in the September, 1951, issue of the Irish Trade Journal and Statistical Bulletin, to which I would refer the Deputy.
It is proposed to publish a supplementary article on this topic in the December 1959, issue, of the same periodical, which will describe the methods used in full and will indicate the relatively minor modifications which have been introduced since 1951. It is not feasible to summarise this material for the purpose of a reply to a Dáil Question.
As regards the expenditure in the categories mentioned by the Deputy, only estimates of aggregate earnings and expenditure are compiled for the Balance of International Payments statement, and official estimates for the different categories are not available.