asked the Minister for the Environment the total cost incurred in the advertising by his Department for the European elections.

At the European Assembly elections responsibility for advertising and the giving of various public notices rested with the returning officers and the local returning officers. Full details of the costs incurred by them are not yet available, but it may be taken that the expenditure was not less than £50,000. This was supplemented by a limited advertising campaign at central level by my Department at a cost of £6,500 approximately.

How much of the cost will be paid by the State and how much of it will be paid by the EEC? Was any of the slush money of £7.7 million devoted to this purpose?

The slush money is not involved. It all comes out of central funds.

Order.

Has the Minister got details of the breakdown of that figure for the local returning officers?

I have not got the details.

As I said, all details of the costs incurred by them are not yet available. When details are available I will give them to whomever wants them.

Would the Minister not accept that exceptional difficulties were caused by the postal dispute, and can he say if provision was made by his Department to allay the confusion that existed because many people did not receive voting cards?

Yes.

Could the Minister identify the action taken?

Advertising in national newspapers and on television.

Was it £6,000 worth of advertising?

No.

Order.

11.