Vol. 469 No. 1
381 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Education the estimated total cost to her Department of all bulletins, pamphlets, newsletters, circulars arising from Ireland's Presidency of the EU; and the estimated total additional cost to her Department of Ireland's Presidency, indicating the major items of expense. [16391/96]
The Minister for Education published a brochure entitled "Initiatives & Activities in Education". This brochure covered the conferences being held by the Department of Education throughout the Presidency. The total cost of this was £4,356.10 (inclusive of value added tax).
In relation to the additional cost of the Presidency, a special allocation of £140,000 was made to my Department. In addition the provision for international conferences was increased by £85,000 over the previous year.
The main items of expenditure are the holding of Presidency conferences and other meetings in Ireland connected with the Presidency, the placement of an officer in the permanent representation in Brussels for ten months from February to November 1996 and additional travelling and subsistence expenses arising from commitments during the Presidency.
