State Agencies.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2009

Tuesday, 20 October 2009

Questions (525)

Enda Kenny

Question:

617 Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science the arrangements that apply in respect of agencies associated with his Department in regard to booking accommodation, travel arrangements, entertainment allowances for meals and so on for officials, board members or directors; if these arrangements apply when the agency involved may host a Minister or Minister of State for functions or occasions at home or abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37208/09]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe)

In relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department I can confirm to the Deputy that appropriate measures are in place to ensure compliance with prescribed procedures which demonstrate efficient, effective and economic use of public funds in relation to business travel and subsistence expenditure.

In addition, my Department's officials brought both the revised Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, which was published in May 2009, and the Foreign Travel Guidelines 2009 issued by the Department of Finance to the attention of these bodies. The bodies were advised that they are required to be in compliance with the guidelines and that my Department would seek assurances with regard to compliance as part of the annual reporting procedure prescribed in the revised Code.