Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 Apr 1997

Vol. 478 No. 5

Written Answers. - Departmental Costs.

Ivor Callely

Question:

149 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Marine the total expenditure by his 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 his phone and mobile phone bills and those of the Minister(s) of State; the cost of photography to his Department; the number of times ministerial air transport was used for this period; if he will give comparative figures for each of the years 1988 and 1989; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11579/97]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Barrett)

The information requested for each of the years 1995 and 1996, and comparative figures for each of the years 1988 and 1989, is set out in the following tables.

Consultancies

1988	1989	1995	1996
£	£	£	£
10,010	54,796	1,229,188	1,113,376

These sums were spent chiefly on departmental rather than ministerial matters. The Department of the Marine employs consultants for a wide range of activities given its responsibilities for areas such as fisheries, ports, fishery harbour centres, marine pollution and the marine environment. The bulk of the expenditure related to engineering and other technical consultancies.

Ministerial Programme Managers, Advisers, Contract Staff and Non-Civil-Service Staff

1988	1989	1995	1996
£	£	£	£
29,375	39,218	153,932	170,727

Public Relations Contracts

1988	1989	1995	1996
£	£	£	£
24,923	21,615	750.00	7,300.00

Mobile and Telephone Costs for the Minister and Minister of State

1988	1989	1995	1996
£	£	£	£
		4,497	5,283

Details of costs for the years 1988 and 1989 are not readily available.

Photography costs for the Department

1988	1989	1995	1996
£	£	£	£
		7,709	4,994

Details of costs incurred, if any, in each of the years 1988 and 1989 are not readily available.

Ministerial Air Transport

Information regarding usage of ministerial air transport is provided in my reply to the same question addressed to me in my capacity as Minister for Defence.