Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 October 2018
298. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of his Department's stand at the National Ploughing Championships 2018; the number of staff deployed from his Department for the week; and the cost of same. [40356/18]
View answerWhile there was no main Departmental stand, a number of agencies under the remit of my Department with specific operational responsibilities, had stands at the Ploughing Championship or were present at stands, reflecting the broad range of work carried out in the Justice sector.
The Legal Aid Board, the Insolvency Service of Ireland, the Property Services Regulatory Authority, and An Garda Síochána, were present. Both the Legal Aid Board and the Insolvency Service of Ireland had stands in the tent of the Citizens Information Board, and so did not incur the cost of a separate tent. The Property Services Regulatory Authority was one of eight agencies present in the National Property and Land Information Centre at the Ploughing Championships, with costs to be split between those agencies.
I myself attended the Ploughing Championships on 20 and 21 September and on the 20 September, was accompanied by two of my advisors and my private secretary. Two staff from the Department's Press and Communications Office were also present on that day as part of their normal duties in connection with publicising the work of the Department and agencies under its remit.
Details of attendance by the agencies mentioned are outlined below for the Deputy's information. All staff in question are entitled to travel and subsistence payments in connection with their attendance in line with civil service guidelines.
Full details of the costs associated with Garda attendance, including in respect of staffing, has yet to be collated by An Garda Síochána.
While promotional materials used were in some cases met from within existing resources, material to the estimated value of €2,500 relating to the Blueblindfold Campaign against human trafficking was contributed by my Department to the An Garda Síochána stand, while in the case of the Insolvency Service of Ireland, €2,034.41 was paid for promotional material and the cost of artwork for a banner.
Legal Aid Board
Tuesday 18 September: 1x Assistant Principal, 1 x Legal Clerk, 1 x Clerical Officer
Thursday 20 September: 1 x Legal Clerk, 3 x Clerical Officer
Friday 21 September: 1x Assistant Principal, 1 x Clerical Officer
Property Services Regulatory Authority
A total of eight staff attended over the three day event, 3 COs, 1 EO and 4 HEOs.
Insolvency Service of IrelandFive members of staff attended (two per day) including 1 staff member at Executive Officer Grade and 4 staff at Clerical Officer Grade,
