Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 Apr 1997

Vol. 478 No. 5

Written Answers. - Department Costs.

Ivor Callely

Question:

100 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice the total expenditure by her Department for each of the years 1995 and 1996 on consultants, ministerial programme managers, advisers, contract staff, non-Civil Service staff and public relations contracts; the cost of her phone and mobile phone bills and those of the Minister of State; the cost of photography to her Department; the number of times Ministerial air transport was used for this period; if she will give comparative figures for each of the years 1988 and 1989; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11569/97]

Minister for Justice (Mrs Owen)

I understand the Deputy is referring to temporary unestablished staff employed in my office and in the offices of the Ministers of State at my Department.The salary costs incurred in respect of the persons concerned were £92,351 in 1995 and £110,917 in 1996.

It is not possible to identify separately the amount of other associated costs, such as overheads, arising in relation to these staff. The total expenditure on consultants for Ministerial public relations was £30,546 in 1995 and £36,173 in 1996.

Expenditure on ministerial-related photography was £1,274 in 1995 and £3,268 in 1996. The additional costs in 1996 are accounted for by the EU Presidency.

In relation to telephone costs, the expenditure in respect of myself and the Ministers of State at my Department was £9,755 in 1995 and £10,486 in 1996.

In relation to Ministerial air transport, I would refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Questions No. 192 of 27 February 1996 (Official Report Volume 462, Columns 393 to 398) for the 1995 information and No. 165 of 10 December, 1996 (Official Report Volume 472, Columns 1336 to 1340) for the 1996 information. The Deputy may wish to note that I made one further trip by air during the period 10 December 1996 to 31 December 1996. Comparative figures for 1988 and 1989 are not readily available and would require a disproportionate expenditure of staff time to compile.