Departmental Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2014

Thursday, 18 December 2014

Questions (260)

Barry Cowen

Question:

260. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide, in tabular form, the total photography costs for his Department since coming to office inclusive of costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance; the occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49138/14]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

The total costs for photography paid by the Department in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 to date is set out in the table.

Date	Company	Cost
25/3/2011	Maxwell Photography	€393.25 (Including VAT)
9/11/2011	Maxwell Photography	€849.42 (Including VAT)
21/11/2012	Fennell Photography	€116.85 (including VAT)
10/07/2013	Maxwell Photography	€17.22 (including VAT)
21/11/2014	Maxwell Photography	€713.40(including VAT)

In a reply to Parliamentary Question numbers 264 of 16th January 2014 and 566 of 8th July 2014 it was incorrectly stated that there were no costs for photography for 2013. The figure now provided above is the corrected figure.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, following an EU-level advertised procurement process, has established a Framework Agreement comprising five firms for the provision of photography services. The Framework was established in February 2012 and is open for use by all Government Departments and Offices. My Department avails of this Framework Agreement for photography needs.