111 Mr. V. Brady asked the Minister for Energy if he will give details of the number of parliamentary questions tabled to him for the year 1991 and the total cost involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The total number of parliamentary questions tabled to me in 1991 was 524. It is not possible to accurately calculate the costs involved and even to provide an approximation would demand an inordinate amount of my Department's time. However, I would draw the Deputy's attention to the information given by the Department of Finance on behalf of all Departments to a question by Deputy McDaid on the 13th of February, 1992, which indicated an average cost of £64 per question answered.