asked the Minister for Local Government the extra costs of postage following recent increases which had to be met by (a) Limerick County Council, (b) Limerick Corporation and (c) Limerick Health Authority.
Ceisteanna — Questions Oral Answers. - Postage Costs.
60.
The information is not available in my Department.
Why is this information not available? When I put down a question it is the Minister's business and his duty to get the information for the House. I want to know why the information is not available.
The Deputy as a former chairman and a continuing member of a local authority should be aware that the cost of postage is not shown separately in the estimates we get from the local authority or in the abstract of accounts. They cannot be abstracted now.
These are only estimates and the postage account is there for everyone to see. It is a simple mathematical exercise to add the increase to that, I want to get that figure to let the whole world know what has been done in the Department.
The Deputy is making a statement.
The Minister is avoiding his responsibility.
No.
He is covering up.
It is must easier to make that statement than to justify it or prove it.
I will get the figure locally and produce it here.
In the abstract postage is bulked with telephone charges and dispersed over the accounts for the various services, roads, housing and all the other services provided by the local authority. If Deputy Coughlan can abstract the postage he will be doing a very useful job.
Question No. 61.
The postage account is there for everyone to see and the Minister knows it. He was a member of a local authority.
Why ask me so?
Because I want the whole world to know what the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs has imposed on the people. The Minister is afraid to give the figure because of political embarrassment.