The total number of credit cards currently held by my Department is 29. The annual cost of supplying credit cards, the amounts purchased and any interest payments for each year from 2000 to date are detailed in the table.
Year
|
Total Payments (excl. Charges)
|
Charges (incl. Stamp Duty)
|
Interest
|
|
€
|
€
|
€
|
2000
|
185,852.33
|
3,079.11
|
0.00
|
2001
|
83,882.81
|
3,498.13
|
0.00
|
2002
|
83,583.51
|
2,932.05
|
0.00
|
2003
|
70,207.31
|
4,077.84
|
0.00
|
2004
|
102,746.20
|
4,245.25
|
0.00
|
2005
|
98,198.72
|
2,075.92
|
0.00
|
2006
|
135,039.13
|
2,361.80
|
0.00
|
2007
|
117,375.02
|
1,324.05
|
0.00
|
Credit cards are allocated to Office Holders and Officials where this facility will be of practical use in meeting the requirements of official business, for example, to facilitate meeting of travel expenses and official entertainment, the procurement of goods and services such as on-line conferences bookings, air travel, purchase of IT equipment and library supplies. In general, credit cards are allocated to office holders and senior officials including Ministers, Secretaries General, Assistant Secretaries, Special Advisers, Private Secretaries and Heads of Divisions where appropriate.
While a credit card has been assigned to me by the Department, I have not had occasion to use it. The current holders are myself, the Chief Whip, Secretary General, Private Secretary to the Taoiseach, Private Secretary to the Minister of State Roche, Assistant Secretaries (5), Press Officer to the Government, Head of Government Information Services, Special Adviser to Taoiseach (2), Special Adviser to the Minister of State, Programme Manager Green Party, Principal Officers (5), Finance Officer (2), Personnel Officer, Assistant Principal Officer — Protocol, Higher Executive Officer — Management Services, Chairman — National Forum on Europe, Director — National Forum on Europe and Director — Ireland Newfoundland Partnership.