asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state (a) the total number of pairs of boots purchased in each year of the years 1973, 1974 and 1975 for the Defence Forces, including the Naval Service (b) the contractor in each case and (c) the country in which the boots were manufactured.
Written Answers. - Defence Forces' Boot Purchases.
55.
(a) 27,345 pairs of boots were ordered in 1973, 39,175 in 1974 and 33,650 in 1975; (b) the contractors for the orders placed in 1973 were: James Boylan and Son Ltd, Emyvale, County Monaghan, E. Donaghy and Sons (Drogheda) Ltd, Drogheda, County Louth, Lee Boot Manufacturing Co. Ltd, Cork and A. F. Byrne, Capel Street, Dublin, while those for 1974 were: James Boylan and Son Ltd, E. Donaghy and Sons (Drogheda) Ltd, Britton (Ireland) Ltd, Limerick, James Winstanley Ltd, Dublin, Irish Dunlop Co. Ltd, Cork, A.F. Byrne, Dublin and O'Meara Sport Centre, Dundrum, County Dublin; and those for 1975 were: E. Donaghy and Sons (Drogheda) Ltd, Britton (Ireland) Ltd and Sportsgear (Ireland) Ltd, Dublin; (c) the boots were all made in Ireland with the exception of 400 pairs of special type sports boots which are not made in Ireland and which were ordered from Irish suppliers. The country of origin of these particular boots cannot be stated definitely.