Vol. 442 No. 8
3 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Taoiseach the total cost to the Exchequer of his private and press offices, including the cost of civil servants, programme managers, advisers, consultants, entertainment and travel in respect of the 12 month period ending 30 April 1994; and the comparative figure for 1991.
The estimated total cost of my private office and the Government Information Service (including the Offices of the Government Press Secretary and the Assistant Government Press Secretary) for the twelve month period ending 30 April 1994 was £1,228,000.
The estimated comparative figure for the 1991 calendar year was £1,088,000 (its current equivalent, taking inflation into account is £1,152,000).
4 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the total cost to the Exchequer of his private and press offices, including the cost of civil servants, programme managers, advisers, consultants, entertainment and travel in respect of the 12 month period ending 30 April 1994; and the comparative figure for 1991.
The estimated total cost on the Vote of the Department of Foreign Affairs of my own private office and of the Department's press office in respect of the twelve month period ending 30 April 1994 was £635,971.
The estimated comparative figure for the year 1991 was £567,884.
5 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance the total cost to the Exchequer of his private and press offices, including the cost of civil servants, programme managers, advisers, consultants, entertainment and travel in respect of the 12 month period ending 30 April 1994; and the comparative figure for 1991.
The total cost to the Exchequer is £485,000.
This costing is based on the cost of salaries, travel and subsistence, entertainment, staff training and development, consultancy, office equipment and miscellaneous items of expenditure which were incurred by my private and press offices and by my programme manager. The costing, with the exception of salaries, is in respect of the year ended 30 April 1994. Salaries are costed for the year ended 6 April, the end of the tax year, since these figures were the most readily available. I have not included expenses which arose in respect of my own travel and subsistence in the above figure.
The comparative figure for 1991 could not be compiled without incurring inordinate time and effort. I, therefore, do not believe that the cost of giving this information is justified.
