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Here . . . Ireland: 48 cent, There . . .Australia: 33 cent, Belgium: 49 cent...

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France: 50 cent

Germany: 55 cent

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New Zealand: 20 cent

Spain: 26 cent

Switzerland: 58 cent

UK: 29 cent

Ukraine: 7 cent

United States: 34 cent

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What you've found . . .

Michael Carroll e-mailed about a couple of big jumps in the price of pensioners' tickets at the Abbey Theatre. After conversion to euro, the price rose 18 per cent, from £5 (€6.35) to €7.50, and now the price has been increased again, to €9.50, a rise of almost 27 per cent.

According to the Abbey, between 2002 and 2003 its costs have increased by about 14 per cent and grant in aid has gone down 15 per cent.

Some of these costs have to be passed on, it says, and this has been reflected in ticket-price increases across the board.

Concessions have also been extended to cover the full week rather than only certain days, and this has also been reflected in the price.

[ pricewatch@irish-times.ie ]