asked the Minister for the Public Service if he will state: (a) the number of persons, whether regular civil servants, advisers or consultants recruited from outside, Garda drivers or other categories, employed in the offices of, or otherwise in the service of, the seven Parliamentary Secretaries who held office on 1 July 1977; (b) the approximate total cost of those persons' salaries together with the cost of the office-holders' own salaries in a full year at the rates applicable at that date; (c) the figure corresponding to (a) above, related to the 15 Ministers of State now in office; (d) the figure corresponding to (b) above related to the 15 Ministers of State now in office (details supplied).

It is not possible to answer the Deputy's question as tabled, as two of the seven Parliamentary Secretary posts were vacant on 1 July 1977.

The information in respect of (1) the five posts which were filled at that date and (2) the posts of Minister of State currently filled is in the form of a tabular statement which will be circulated in the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

The information requested regarding Ministers of State currently in office is as follows:

I do not want to upset the Minister and I am not sure what is your ruling about this, Sir, but I think there are only four figures involved. That is all I sought — global figures — and if the Minister has them in that form I should be grateful if he would give them. If he has not got them in that form I will not pursue the matter.

That is a matter for the Minister, not for the Chair.

It is a list involving a page-and-a-half.

Well, then, I will not press it.