asked the Minister for Finance if he will state in respect of our embassies in London and Paris, respectively, the total sum spent on (a) the acquisition of the premises, and (b) furnishing.

(a) The purchase price, including legal, etc., expenses of the London Embassy was £76,028 and of the Paris Embassy £151,940.

(b) The cost of adaptation works, including furnishing, was—London Embassy, £112,516 (including approximately £25,000 for furniture); Paris Embassy, £48,500 (including approximately £15,000 for furniture).

It is clear that something under £500,000 has been spent on these buildings and, in view of the national economic emergency which the Taoiseach announced recently and for which the Government has found it necessary to ration bread and butter to the middle and lower income groups particularly, would he consider selling off these pretentious, grandiose buildings and buying something more in keeping with our resources——

That is a separate question.

——and using the money saved to better advantage?

That is a separate question.