Departmental Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 16 September 2016

Friday, 16 September 2016

Questions (1921)

Dara Calleary

Question:

1921. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of credit cards issued to Ministers and officials working in her Department; the amount spent on credit cards by her Department in 2014 and in 2015; the amount of bank interest paid on credit cards in 2014 and 2015; the controls in place to monitor the issuing of and the expenditure on these cards; the controls in place in each agency to monitor expenditure on personally held credit card bills that are subsequently used to recoup work related expenses; if these controls are being reviewed in view of recent events in agencies funded by the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24737/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

There are three corporate credit cards currently in use in my Department. A Credit Card is issued to my Private Secretary, a second card is issued to a designated officer in the Department's Finance Unit and a third to a designated officer in the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. These cards are typically used to cover a range of miscellaneous costs such as that relating to official entertainment, accommodation, seminar and conference fees, annual membership fees, publications and software purchases.

Table 1: Expenditure incurred on Credit Cards, 2014-2015

	2014	2015
Finance Unit	€19,047.63	€19,038.14
Private Secretary	€2,699.36	€956.38
Commission of Investigation	0	€2,848.80
Total	€21,746.79	€22,943.32

Table 2: Bank Interest paid on Credit Cards, 2014-2015

	2014	2015
Finance Unit	€19.33	€86.29
Private Secretary	€72.27	€3.12
Commission of Investigation	0	€24.17
Total	€91.60	€113.58

The Department exercises strict control over the use of credit cards. In accordance with the guidelines in operation for card usage, credit cards must not be used for personal and private use, inappropriate purchases, transactions valued over the card limit and for personal entertainment or hospitality. In addition, the Department’s Finance Unit reconciles bank statements with receipts from cardholders each month, monitors individual transactions and checks that all associated costs, including expenses, were necessarily incurred in the performance of official duties.

As regards credit card usage in agencies under the remit of my Department, the Deputy has tabled additional questions on these matters and separate responses are being provided in relation to the issues raised.