Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 24 May 1995

Vol. 453 No. 4

Written Answers. - Departmental Printing Costs.

Máirín Quill

Question:

36 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the increasing cost of Government printing and publishing by Departments; the instructions, if any he has issued in order to contain such costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9425/95]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Coveney)

In order to put this matter in perspective I have set out below the cost of printing ordered by Government Departments through the Government Supplies Agency of the Office of Public Works in the first four months of 1995 and in the comparable period in the years 1991 to 1994.

January-April

(£000)

1991	1992	1993	1994	1995
2,354	2,308	2,335	2,406	2,735

While the increase in costs between 1994 and 1995 for the period in question is just under 14 per cent the bulk of this increase is due to increases in the cost of paper rather than to a growth in the quantity of printing. Labour cost increases would also account for a relatively small percentage increase.

Since January 1990 responsibility for funding for printing has been transferred to individual Departments. At that time standing instructions were issued to all Departments to ensure the most stringent economies in printing costs and a reminder to this effect was issued again by the Minister for Finance in March of this year.