Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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279. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total cost of issuing Litir um Toghchain to each home at the last general election; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26106/14]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Under Section 57 of the Electoral Act 1992, each candidate (or group of candidates from the same party) is entitled to send for a General Election, free of any charge for postage, to each person on the register of Dáil electors for the constituency, one postal communication containing matter relating to the election known as "Litir um Toghchain". For General Election 2011, the total postage cost of delivering election material for candidates under this entitlement was €11,606,616.72.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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280. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total cost of issuing Litir um Toghchain to each home at the recent European election; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26107/14]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Under rule 22 of Schedule 2 of the European Parliament Elections Act 1997 as amended by Section 78(c) of the Electoral Act 1997 each candidate (or group of candidates from the same party) in a European Election is entitled to send, free of any charge for postage, to each household one postal communication containing matter relating to the election known as "Litir um Toghchain". Section 78(c) of the Electoral Act 1997 was commenced by the Minister for Environment Community and Local Government in February of this year.  Implementation of the modified free postage entitlement for European Elections, which changed the free postage entitlement from one item per elector on the Register of Electors to one item per household, will significantly reduce the number of items of candidates literature to be delivered and is expected to lead to significant savings in the cost of this service.

The actul cost of delivering Litir um Toghchain for the 2014 European Elections is not yet available as the final invoice has not been received from An Post. However, the estimated  cost is circa €8.65 million.