asked the Minister for Finance whether he can state the amount received up to September 30th from the admission fee of threepence charged to persons wishing to enter the mail boat pier at Dun Laoghaire, and also, the cost of printing tickets of admission: and further, if he can state whether any printing firm in Dun Laoghaire or the neighbourhood was invited to tender for the printing of these tickets.

The answer to the first part of the question is £543 0s. 9d. and the second part £2 10s. 0d. As to the third part, the tickets are required in rolls, and in view of the fact that machinery suitable for producing tickets in that form is very limited it was not possible to have the work carried out in Dun Laoghaire or its immediate vicinity.

In view of the fact that additional tickets may be required at any time, will the Parliamentary Secretary consider the desirability of giving facilities to local printers to tender for the printing of these tickets?

If they have the facilities, certainly. The tickets are at present printed in Dundalk.

I know they are.