Departmental Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2010

Wednesday, 29 September 2010

Ceisteanna (1240)

Brian Hayes

Ceist:

1328 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount his Department spent in each of the last three years and in the first six months of this year on mobile phone bills; the number of staff within the Department who have mobile phones paid by the Department; the mobile phone operator that has the contract for supplying this service; the tender, if any, that applies to the service being provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33643/10]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív)

For the periods in question, total mobile phone costs for the Department were as follows:

2007: €427,858

2008: €458,386

2009: €477,940

Jan – Jun 2010: €165,579

1,056 members of staff have mobile phones supplied and paid for. The Department currently has contracts in place with Vodafone and O2 for the provision of mobile phone services which were tendered for under the central mobile phone framework.