Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 Apr 1997

Vol. 478 No. 5

Written Answers. - Departmental Costs.

Ivor Callely

Question:

56 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform 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. [11575/97]

Minister for Equality and Law Reform (Mr. Taylor)

I informed the Deputy on a number of previous occasions that there is no Minister of State in my Department, and that since my Department was established in 1993, the question of its operation before that date does not arise.

Information on the cost of consultancies in 1995 and 1996 has already been provided to the House. Replies to Questions Nos. 99 and 100 of 5 March 1997 (Volume 475, No. 8, column 1784), Question No. 33 of 19 February 1997 (Volume 475, No. 2, column 437) and Question No. 135 of 28 January 1997 (Volume 473, No. 6, columns 1,745-1,747) refer.

While various publicity costs have of course arisen from time to time, I have not awarded a public relations contract in the period in question.

The position regarding non-Civil Service staff has already been explained to the Deputy; reply to Question No. 78 of 20 March 1997 (Volume 476, No. 6, columns 1,382-1,383) refers.

Details of payments to unestablished staff in my office — to whom I assume the question is confined — for 1995 has already been provided in reply to Question No. 120 of 22 October 1996 (Volume 470, No. 4, columns 853-854).

The position in 1996 regarding salaries is as stated in reply to Question No. 83 of 19 December 1996 (Volume 473, No. 3, columns 755-756) and regarding expenses as stated in replies to Question No. 120 of 22 October 1996 (Volume 470, No. 4, columns 853-854) and Question No. 59 of 16 April 1997 (Volume 477, No. 6, columns 1,369-1,370).

In 1995 and 1996 approximate relevant expenditure on telephones was £3,200 and £4,900 respectively and on photography was £1,250 and £820 respectively.

The position regarding my use of Government aircraft in 1996 was already provided to the Deputy in reply to Question No. 77 of 10 December 1996 (Volume 472, No. 6 column 1,297-1,298). Such use arose once in 1995 for a round trip.