Departmental Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2015

Tuesday, 16 June 2015

Questions (714)

Barry Cowen

Question:

714. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, by year, the total photography costs for her Department since coming into office, inclusive of the costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance; if she will provide the list of 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 her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23418/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Since my appointment, no photographers have been booked or costs incurred for Ministerial events by the Department or through the Ministerial Allowance.

For the Deputy's information, a sum of approximately €7,400 was paid in July and August 2014 by my Department for the restoration, framing and installation of photographs in order to establish a permanent photo gallery of Ministers and Secretaries General who have served in the Department. 2014 marked the 90th anniversary of the Department in its modern form since the establishment of the Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924. The project has been in train for some time.

My Department adheres to appropriate procurement guidelines when procuring the use of photography services. The attached tabular statement provides a breakdown of the details requested. The following table provides a breakdown of the details requested:

€7,386.78	Reproduction, framing and installation of permanent gallery of previous Ministers for Education and Secretaries General of the Department - July and August 2014 - Irish Photo Archive Ltd., Lensmen and Associates, and Maurice Ward and Co. Ltd.
€17.22	Jpeg – Minister Jan O’Sullivan, Seal of Office on 15th August 2014 – Maxwell Photography