The number of reports produced by my Department varies from year to year. In 2008 the cost for printing all reports amounted to €66,035. Of that amount €30,321 was for the printing of Annual Reports by my Department, by the Office of the Minister for Children and the Adoption Board. It is not possible to give a figure for the cost of posting reports. These costs are included as part of my Department's general postal costs and are not broken down by category of items posted.
The position regarding the HSE and other agencies under my Department's aegis is a matter for the agencies themselves. My Department is asking these agencies to reply directly to the Deputy in this regard. My Department is committed to progressively moving towards e-publishing and away from the traditional paper products in order to reduce costs and waste.