asked the Minister for External Affairs the location of various Irish embassies and consulates throughout the world, listing (a) the initial cost of each establishment, (b) the total maintenance cost per annum including salaries and all other expenses, (c) the total exports from this country to each of the countries stated in the replies and (d) the total imports from each of the same countries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Embassies and Consulates.
3.
Estimate No. 45 in the Book of Estimates shows the locations of our Missions abroad and their annual cost.
In asking for the initial cost of each establishment, I assume that the Deputy is referring to the capital cost of premises, office equipment, furniture, etc., and as this expenditure was incurred at various times over the past 40 years it would require an undue expenditure of time and effort to compile such information. If the Deputy would be satisfied with knowing the purchase price or rent of the premises now occupied by any of our Missions. I shall endeavour to supply the information if he puts down a question.
The figures for Irish exports and imports in respect of the countries involved in the question are given in the Stationery Office publication "Trade Statistics of Ireland" which is available in the Dáil Library.