Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 July 2015
865. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will outline and itemise all expenditure undertaken by her Department on private travel for her and-or for her private office, on legal fees, on consultancy fees and on hotel accommodation during the 12-month period to 30 June 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30064/15]
View answerMy Department has incurred no expenditure in respect of private travel by me or my private office staff. Under the official travel guidelines issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, reimbursements of travel expenses can only occur in respect of costs incurred in the course of carrying out official duties. Details of the costs incurred in respect of official travel undertaken by the staff of my private office and by me during the period specified by the Deputy are as follows:
|
Expense Type |
Minister |
Ministerial Staff |
|
Mileage |
€15,682 |
€1,651 |
|
Subsistence |
€1,575 |
€13,027 |
|
Air Fares |
€7,246 |
€4,548 |
|
Hotel Accommodation |
€1,374 |
€2,443 |
|
Miscellaneous |
€1,502 |
€2,218 |
I am advised that there was no expenditure on legal fees from my Department's Administrative Budget during the specified period. However, for completeness, I should point out that my Department makes payments from time to time to the Chief State Solicitor's Office in respect of legal services that it provides to my Department.
Expenditure on consultancy fees from my Department's Administrative Budget during the specified period was €24,907, as follows:
|
Company |
Purpose |
Amount Paid |
|
Fitzpatrick Associates |
Ulster Canal – updated business case |
€15,190 |
|
Public Affairs Ireland |
Údarás na Gaeltachta - review of management structure |
€9,717 |
My Department also commissions engineering or environmental experts from time to time to provide technical reports on specific issues as required. Expenditure on such work, or on contracts awarded for the provision of services to my Department, are not included in the above figures as these are not classified as "consultancy services and policy reviews" and are not funded from my Department's Administrative Budget.
Details of expenditure by my Department are available in the annual Appropriation Accounts published by the Comptroller and Auditor General at www.audgen.ie.
