Limerick East): I refer the Deputy to Question No. 128 on 25 March 1997 (Official Report, Volume 476, columns 1,603 and 1,604) in relation to total expenditure by the Department for 1995 and 1996 on consultants and public relations contracts.
I refer the Deputy further to Question No. 103 on 22 October 1996 (Official Report, Volume 470, columns 845 and 846) in relation to total expenditure for 1995 on ministerial programme managers, advisers, contract staff and non-Civil Service staff. The information requested in relation to the aforementioned staff for 1996 is as follows: 1996 total expenditure, £382,421.97.
Costs incurred by myself and the two Ministers of State in the Department through the use of telephones and mobile phones are as follows: 1995, £14,275.34; 1996, £15,201.93.
The cost of photography to the Department for 1995 and 1996: 1995, £4,895.64; 1996,£3,261.71.
The number of times ministerial air transport was used by myself and the two Ministers of State in the Department are as follows: 1995, 6; 1996, 12.
It should be noted that in this context the term "ministerial air transport" is taken to refer to the use of Air Corps services.
Comparative figures for each of the questions raised by the Deputy for the years 1988 and 1989 have not been calculated due to the inordinate amount of time and resources which would be required to compile the information requested.
