I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 79 of 20 Márta 1997 regarding non-Civil Service and other staff costs attached to my office. The figures provided in that reply do not include staff employed by the heritage service on specific projects in the areas of national monuments, national parks and wildlife and inland waterways. Expenditure by my Department on consultants under subhead A.7 of my Department's Vote amounted to £148,000 in 1995 and £67,000 in 1996. No expenditure from my Department's Vote was undertaken on public relations contracts during the years in question.
I, and my Minister of State, have the use of mobile phones and fixed phones in a number of locations. I do not consider that the time and expense involved in extracting the detailed information required by the Deputy could be justified.
A number of staff are engaged in photographic duties in the heritage service and in the national cultural institutions under the aegis of my Department. The costs associated with those duties are provided for in the administrative budget of my Department.
The number of times ministerial air transport was used during the period in question was nine in 1995 and 11 in 1996.
As my Department was established on 20 January 1993 the Deputy will appreciate that no comparative figures are available for the years 1988 and 1989.
