Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 24 Apr 1997

Vol. 478 No. 3

Written Answers. - Departmental Uniforms.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

23 Mr. Callely asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the cost of uniforms issued by his Department or authorities under the aegis of his Department for each of the years from 1994 to 1996; if he will give a breakdown of such costs: the level, volume and value of stock in store; if he will give details of the quality of materials used; the feedback, if any, there has been on the comfort and benefit to the users of the uniforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11104/97]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

The cost of uniforms issued by my Department for each of the years from 1994-96 is as follows:

	£
1994	5,835.17
1995	14,346.66
1996	8,058.37

Included in the above is the cost of uniforms for service officer-attendant grades at headquarters and the embassy in London and for locally recruited staff employed at certain missions abroad.

No stock of uniforms is held at headquarters or abroad.

The supply of uniforms for the service officer-attendant grades is handled by the Government Supplies Agency. Uniforms for staff abroad are purchased locally. In the case of the latter climatic conditions are taken into consideration in determining the type of materials used.