asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the cost of the following units in mid-February, 1973, and mid-February, 1977: a therm of gas (Dublin Gas Company), a household unit of electricity and a ton of coal, Polish and English.

The information requested by the Deputy is in the form of a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report.

The following is the statement:

Prices of Gas, Electricity and Coal

In the case of coal, prices outside the Dublin area for Polish coal ranged from £17 to £20 per ton in mid-February, 1973, and from £37.87 to £48.52 in mid-February, 1977. The price for English coal ranged from £20.30 to £23.11 per ton in mid-February, 1973, and from £41.23 to £48.67 per ton in mid-February, 1977.