Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 31 Oct 1990

Vol. 402 No. 3

Written Answers. - EC Presidency Cost.

Roger T. Garland

Question:

63 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give details of the costs in connection with the Presidency of the EC, including the costs involved in carrying out works to Dublin Castle, additional security costs, travel and expenses of members of the Government and civil servants, road works, banquets and overseas travel, including charter of jets and tidying up road and street scapes; whether money was paid to any company or contractor to tidy up the road into Dublin from Dublin Airport; whether any additional funds were made available to Dublin County Council or Dublin Corporation to carry out works in the lead-up to the Presidency or during it; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Collins)

The Presidency involved the organisation here and abroad of two meetings of the European Council (the Summits), 38 formal meetings of the Council in 17 different formations, nine informal councils or ministerial conferences in Ireland, two ministerial EPC meetings, two special meetings of Foreign Ministers, one meeting of Justice Ministers and over 200 official-level committees and working groups in the Community framework. These meetings dealt with a wide variety of subjects, in many different languages, over a period of six months of rapid and historic change in Europe, and in the Community's relations with the rest of the world.

Given the multiplicity of expenditure headings, the number of Departments involved and the difficulty in many cases of isolating Presidency costs from the normal running costs of Departments, it is not practicable to give exact details of the costs to the Exchequer of the Presidency.

With this qualification, it is estimated that the total additional expenditure arising out of the Presidency was as follows:

	£
Accommodation works, redecoration, telecommunications infrastructure and additional accommodation for the international media in Dublin Castle	1,550,000
Other Accommodation	209,581
Security	3,786,000
Travel Expenses	2,382,758
Entertainment including meals, receptions, hotel accommodation and other expenses related to conferences and meetings	2,214,166
Telecommunications	269,339
Office equipment and supplies	178,249
Staff costs	712,661
Miscellaneous including road works, publications and printing, simultaneous interpretation services, medical services and fire services	651,399
	£11,954,153

The Deputy will, of course, recall that Ireland's receipts from the Community budget alone are of the order of £1,000 million a year.

Most of the expenditure on accommodation and furniture and supplies is of continuing benefit and will continue to be useful for State and official purposes in the future.

A total of £475,000, of which £370,000 to Dublin Corporation and £105,000 to Dublin County Council, was allocated by the Department of the Environment towards road works which, while having a long term objective, also facilitated access and security during the Presidency. No additional rate support grant funding was given to Dublin Corporation or Dublin County Council.