Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 March 2013
369. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the costs of providing hardware and software to his home and the home of the Ministers of State in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12363/13]
View answer370. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the costs of providing telephone in the homes of Ministers and Ministers of State in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12381/13]
View answer371. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the cost of telephones and ICT provided to constituency offices, including monthly telephone bills of Ministers and Ministers of State in his Department since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12400/13]
View answer372. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if any additional costs other than telephones, ICT and monthly phone bills are being paid to constituency offices by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12418/13]
View answer373. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of mobile telephones in use by him, Ministers of State and politically appointed staff; the total costs of the mobile telephones since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12436/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 369 to 373, inclusive, together.
Details of all hardware provided by my Department to my home are as follows: One PC and one scanner at a total cost of €325.00. No Departmental equipment has been provided to the Minister of State, Deputy O’Dowd’s home and there was no software procured for use by myself or the Minister of State.
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department at all times seeks to achieve the optimum cost efficiency in the provision of both ICT and communications equipment
and telephone services to the offices of Ministers, and throughout the Department. Regarding the Deputy’s specific questions, I can confirm that the Department has
not provided telephone equipment in either my home or the home of the Minister of State.
The cost, from February 2011 to date of the provision of ICT equipment to both of the constituency offices is €5,503, with all printers and scanners provided from existing Department stock. In the same period the costs of telephony for constituency offices amounted to €4,167.90. My Department has not incurred any costs, additional to ICT and communications costs.
A total of 11 mobile communications devices (phone, data and tablet) have been provided to myself, the Minister of State and politically appointed staff. The cost of the provision and operation of this equipment and ancillary equipment was €6,769.63 in 2011, €8,353.22 in 2012 and €1,660.98 to date in 2013.
