Eric J. Byrne
Question:258 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cost to his Department of photography in 1993 and 1994. [13064/97]
Written Answers. - Departmental Costs.
Ivor Callely
Question:273 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cost to date of all ministerial photography in his Department since December 1994; if he will give a breakdown of such costs for himself and the Ministers of State at his Department. [12969/97]
Photography services form part of the Department's media and advertising strategy aimed at improving public awareness of the various social welfare schemes and services and supporting the efforts of local community groups to promote their activities.
The practice for many years has been that when schemes or services are being launched or promoted by the Minister or Minister of State or where conferences-seminars on social welfare issues are held and where the Minister or Minister of State is invited to promote the activities of a local voluntary organisation's services the Department engages the services of a photographer to assist with the publicity associated with such events, some of which the Minister, Minister of State or both may attend. Several hundred such invitations are received each year and the costs of such photography cannot be regarded as `ministerial' photography as suggested by Deputy Callely.
On assuming office I took a conscious decision to limit such expenditure.
The total costs for each of the years 1993-96 for photography services was:
|
£ |
|
|
Breakdown of Photography Expenditure for 1996 |
|
|
Minister |
7,607.76 |
|
Minister of State |
5,932.96 |
|
13,540.72 |
|
|
Department |
2,815.10 |
|
Presidency |
3,482.74 |
|
6,297.84 |
|
|
Total Expenditure |
19,838.56 |
|
Breakdown of Photography Expenditure for 1995 |
|
|
Minister |
9,007.87 |
|
Minister of State |
2,258.06 |
|
11,265.93 |
|
|
Department |
4,779.79 |
|
Total Expenditure |
16,045.72 |
|
Breakdown of Photography Expenditure for 1994 |
|
|
Minister |
21,400 |
|
Minister of State |
8,250 |
|
29,650 |
|
|
Department |
1,200 |
|
Total Expenditure |
30,850 |
|
Breakdown of Photography Expenditure for 1993 |
|
|
Minister |
9,920.68 |
|
Minister of State |
5,811.32 |
|
15,731.32 |
|
|
Department |
1,274.15 |
|
Total Expenditure |
17,006.15 |