asked the Minister for Defence the number of young horses bought by the army jumping team in the last 24 months; their average age and average price; and the number of horses sold during the same period and the average price obtained for them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Jumping Team.
69.
During the last 24 months, eight horses were bought for the Army Equitation School. Their average age was 5? years and the average price was £3,075.
Seven equitation horses were sold during the same period and the average price obtained was £182.
Could the Minister explain the difference between the price at which the horse was bought, which was, if my memory serves me correctly, almost £3,500 and the price at which the horse was sold?
Horses are sold when they reach a certain age.
Can the Minister give me any idea of the ages at which they were sold?
That information was not asked for in the question. They had reached the end of their usefulness.
Surely the taxpayers are entitled to know why there is a difference of £3,500 between the cost price and the selling price.
The horses were sold when they reached the stage of being no longer useful.
If the Minister would tell us the ages we could come to a conclusion ourselves.
That is a separate question.