Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount the Oireachtas pays each year for prepaid envelopes provided for Deputies and Senators, in total and per individual Deputy and Senator; the price paid per envelope; if any savings are achieved from An Post for this bulk purchase; if the money is paid up front or when the envelope is used; and if he or the Commission have investigated the possibility of achieving greater savings through a different arrangement, as well as the possibility of moving to a system in which envelopes are paid for on an as-per-use basis. [2787/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Regulations in relation to free postal facilities for members of the Houses of the Oireachtas provide for monthly allocations of prepaid envelopes for both Deputies and Senators - currently 1,250 and 750 respectively - with additional allocations for party whips. The allocations were reduced in June 2011 from the previous levels as a means of achieving efficiencies. The administration of the free postal facilities is a matter for the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. The Commission, therefore, is in the best position to provide to the Deputy the detailed information requested, and I understand that the Commission is currently reviewing the provision and use of Oireachtas envelopes.