Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 19 Oct 1995

Vol. 457 No. 3

Written Answers. - Ministerial Costs.

Michael Woods

Question:

82 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the number and cost of staff in his general and private ministerial offices and the general and private ministerial offices of the Minister (s) of State at his Department: the number and cost of contract and part-time staff employed in such offices: the cost of all travel undertaken by him or the Minister (s) of State at his Department since appointment to office outlining the destinations visited, the duraction, dates and purpose of the trips; the total expenses incurred by him or the Minister (s) of State at his Department; and the cost and names of consultancy services to his Department and each State body under the aegis of his Department to date in 1995. [15312/95]

Minister for Equality and Law Reform (Mr. Taylor)

Eight staff are employed in the general ministerial office at my Department at a total annual salary of £136,407 and one staff member is employed in the constituency office at my Department at an annual salary of £10,120.

In addition, in the general ministerial office three contract staff are employed at a total annual salary of £111,538 and one person is employed on an eight-week contract at a total salary for the period of £2,848. In the constituency office one person is employed on contract at an annual salary of £18,955.

I have undertaken three foreign official trips since my appointment to office, the details of which are as follows:

(i) From 9 to 10 February 1995 to attend a Council of Europe Steering Committee meeting on equality between men and women which was held in Strasbourg;

(ii) From 16 to 22 March 1995 to attend a range of official functions in Toronto; and

(iii) From 1 to 10 September 1995 to attend the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing.

Details of the cost incurred in the course of travel outside the State is contained in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 87 of 18 October 1995.

The only expenses claimed by me in respect of home travel amounts to £125.79. The work involved in extracting information regarding all home travel, i.e. destinations visited, duration, dates and purpose of these trips, would entail a disproportionate amount of time and effort.

There is no Minister of State in my Department.

My Department has engaged Quinn, McDonnell Pattison Group as consultants in relation to the Divorce Referendum. The cost will be in the region of £41,000. No payments have been made to date on foot of this contract. Also, Mr. Michael Keegan was appointed to conduct an inquiry on my behalf into the appointment of a Solicitor-In-Charge in the Monaghan office of the Legal Aid Board. The total cost of the inquiry was £3,400.

Details of the cost and names of consultancy services to the bodies under the aegis of my Department are set out in the tabular statement following:

Consultancy

The Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities

Name	Cost to date in 1995
	£
Ms Anne Colgan	20,166.70

The Task Force on the Travelling Community

Name	Cost to date in 1995
	£
Department of Health Promotion Studies (UCG) and Patricia McCarthy & Associates	10,000
Social Policy Research Unit (UCG)	532
Ms Gráinne Healy	4,200

Legal Aid Board

Name	Cost to date in 1995
	£
Professional Placement Ltd.	15,481
O'Hare & Associates, Chartered Accountants	2,371
Mr. Michael Battle	1,210

Employment Equality Agency

Name	Cost to date in 1995
	£
Hilary Frazer	709.80
Hugh Fisher	930.00
Mel Cousins	600.00
Joe Durkan	300.00
Ursula Barry	75.00
Clare Carroll	300.00
Gráinne Healy	75.00