asked the Minister for Finance, in respect of (a) himself and (b) each Minister of State attached to his Department, (1) the number of Christmas cards sent out in Christmas 1978; and (2) the cost to public funds of the cards sent out on behalf of each Minister or Minister of State, including the cost of postage.
Written Answers. - Official Christmas Cards.
134.
The information is as follows: (a) on behalf of Minister (1) 485 official greeting cards, (2) £53.72, (b) on behalf of the Minister of State, (1) 600 official greeting cards, (2) £99.00. Official Christmas cards are despatched as departmental post and there is no separate postage record.
135.
asked the Minister for the Public Service in respect of (a) himself, and (b) each Minister of State attached to his Department, (1) the number of Christmas cards sent out in Christmas 1978; and (2) the cost to public funds of the cards sent out on behalf of each Minister or Minister of State, including the cost of postage.
All official greeting cards sent by me for Christmas 1978 were sent in my capacity as Minister for Finance and Minister for the Public Service and, as indicated in reply to a similar question put down to me as Minister for Finance, the number was 485 and the cost £53.72. As regards the Minister of State at the Department of the Public Service, the number of official Christmas cards was 300 and the cost £57.86. Official Christmas cards are despatched as departmental post and there is no separate postage record.
136.
asked the Minister for Health in respect of (a) himself, and (b) each Minister of State attached to his Department, (1) the number of Christmas cards sent out at Christmas 1978; and (2) the cost to public funds of the cards sent out on behalf of each Minister or Minister of State, including the cost of postage.
One thousand two hundred Christmas cards costing £425.97 were sent out by me at Christmas 1978. As the cards were despatched as normal departmental post, no separate record was kept of the cost of the postage.
Note: (1) The above figures relate to official cards only—they do not include personal cards purchased and dispatched at my own expense. (2) There is no Minister of State attached to my Department.
137.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare in respect of (a) himself, and (b) each Minister of State attached to his Department, (1) the number of Christmas cards sent out in Christmas 1978; and (2) the cost to public funds of the cards sent out on behalf of each Minister or Minister of State, including the cost of postage.
One thousand and fifty Christmas cards costing £372.72 were sent out by me at Christmas 1978. As the cards were dispatched as normal departmental post, no separate record was kept of the cost of the postage.
Note: (1) The above figures relate to official cards only—they do not include personal cards purchased and dispatched at my own expense. (2) There is no Minister of State attached to my Department.
138.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry in respect of (a) himself, and (b) each Minister of State attached to his Department, (1) the number of Christmas cards sent out in Christmas 1978; and (2) the cost to public funds of the cards sent out on behalf of each Minister or Minister of State, including the cost of postage.
The number of official greeting cards sent by me at Christmas 1978 was 600. The purchase cost was £95. The cards were included in the Department's ordinary mail, the estimated cost of postage being £60.
139.
asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport in respect of (a) himself, and (b) each Minister of State attached to his Department, (1) the number of Christmas cards sent out in Christmas 1978; and (2) the cost to public funds of the cards sent out on behalf of each Minister or Minister of State, including the cost of postage.
As Minister for Tourism and Transport the number of Christmas cards sent by me in 1978 was 300 at a cost of £52.50 including printing. The cards were despatched as departmental post and the estimated cost was £30.00.
140.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs in respect of (a) himself, and (b) each Minister of State attached to his Department (1) the number of Christmas cards sent out in Christmas 1978, and (2) the cost to public funds of the cards sent out on behalf of each Minister or Minister of State, including the cost of postage.
The number of cards sent out by the Minister was 247 at a cost of £97.50 including postage.
The number of cards sent out by the Minister of State was 288 at a cost of £113.48 including postage.
141.
asked the Minister for Agriculture in respect of (a) himself, and (b) each Minister of State attached to his Department, (1) the number of Christmas cards sent out in Christmas 1978; and (2) the cost to public funds of the cards sent out on behalf of each Minister or Minister of State, including the cost of postage.
Following is the information requested:
|
Minister |
Minister of State |
||
|
(i) |
(ii) |
(iii) |
(iv) |
|
No. of cards sent |
Cost to public funds |
No. of cards sent |
Cost to public funds |
|
£ |
£ |
||
|
500 |
117 |
320 |
47 |
Note
As the cards were despatched as departmental post, there is no record of the actual cost of postage but an estimate of the cost is included in the figures at (ii) and (iv).
142.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy in respect of (a) himself, and (b) each Minister of State attached to his Department, (1) the number of Christmas cards sent out in Christmas 1978; and (2) the cost to public funds of the cards sent out on behalf of each Minister or Minister of State, including the cost of postage.
The number of Christmas cards sent out by me in 1978 was nil.
The number of Christmas cards sent out by the Minister of State, Deputy M. Geoghegan-Quinn, was 477 at a cost of £86.80.
The number of Christmas cards sent out by the Minister of State, Deputy Raphael Burke, was 465 at a cost of £220.41.
Officially provided Christmas cards are despatched as departmental post and there is no separate postage record.
143.
asked the Minister for Defence in respect of (a) himself, and (b) each Minister of State attached to his Department (1) the number of Christmas cards sent out in Christmas 1978; and (2) the cost to public funds of the cards sent out on behalf of each Minister or Minister of State, including the cost of postage.
The number of Christmas cards sent out by me was 3,300 and the purchase price was £450 plus VAT. The cards were despatched as departmental post and no separate record of the cost of postage was kept.
Particulars in regard to cards sent out by the Minister of State at the Department of Defence are being included by the Taoiseach in a reply to a similar question.
144.
asked the Minister for Justice in respect of (a) himself, and (b) each Minister of State attached to his Department, (1) the number of Christmas cards sent out in Christmas 1978; and (2) the cost to public funds of the cards sent out on behalf of each Minister or Minister of State, including the cost of postage.
The number of Christmas cards sent by me in Christmas 1978 was 8,400. The total cost of the cards was £59.00. As these cards were despatched with normal departmental post for the period in question, no separate record is available regarding the cost of postage.
There was no Minister of State attached to my Department during the period in question.
145.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs in respect of (a) himself, and (b) each Minister of State attached to his Department, (1) the number of Christmas cards sent out in Christmas 1978, and (2) the cost to public funds of the cards sent out on behalf of each Minister or Minister of State, including the cost of postage.
A total of 2,000 Christmas cards, the vast majority of which were sent abroad, were sent by me at Christmas 1978 at a cost of £530, including postage. The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs sent 500 Christmas cards at a total cost of £110.00 including postage.
146.
asked the Minister for the Environment in respect of (a) himself, and (b) each Minister of State attached to his Department, (1) the number of Christmas cards sent out in Christmas 1978; and (2) the cost to public funds of the cards sent out on behalf of each Minister or Minister of State, including the cost of postage.
The number of Christmas cards sent out by me was 550 and the purchase cost was £97.75. The Minister of State at my Department sent 500 cards and the purchase cost was £83. The cards were despatched as departmental post and there is no separate record of the postage cost, but it is estimated at £55 and £50 respectively.
147.
asked the Minister for Labour in respect of (a) himself, and (b) each Minister of State attached to his Department, (1) the number of Christmas cards sent out in Christmas 1978; and (2) the cost to public funds of the cards sent out on behalf of each Minister or Minister of State, including the cost of postage.
In 1978 the number of Christmas cards sent out by the Minister for Labour was 684. The cost, excluding postage, was £149. The cards were despatched as departmental post and there is no separate postage record.
148.
asked the Minister for the Gaeltacht in respect of himself (1) the number of Christmas cards sent out in Christmas 1978; and (2) the cost to public funds of the cards sent out on his behalf, including the cost of postage.
Chuir mé amach 187 gcárta Nollaig a chosain £28.63. Is chuig daoine a mbionn baint oifigiúil ag mo Roinn leo a cuireadh na cártaí sin agus seoladh trí phost na Roinne iad gan aon íocaíocht ar leith a dhéanamh.
149.
asked the Minister for Education if he will state in respect of (a) himself, and (b) each Minister of State attached to his Department, (1) the number of Christmas cards sent out in Christmas 1978; and (2) the cost to public funds of the cards sent out on behalf of each Minister or Minister of State, including the cost of postage.
In regard to (a) 700 cards were sent costing £117.60 and (b) 600 cards were sent out costing £174.00.
The cost of postage cannot be calculated as, in accordance with long standing practice, the envelopes are franked and issued as part of the ordinary departmental post.
150.
asked the Minister for Economic Planning and Development in respect of (a) himself, and (b) each Minister of State attached to his Department, (1) the number of Christmas cards sent out in Christmas 1978; and (2) the cost to public funds of the cards sent out on behalf of each Minister or Minister of State, including the cost of postage.
There were 627 Christmas cards sent out from my office in 1978. The cost to public funds, including postage, was £223.23.