I 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.