Departmental Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 September 2011

Tuesday, 20 September 2011

Ceisteanna (81, 82, 83, 84)

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

109 Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Taoiseach if he will deal with a matter (details supplied) regarding expenses claimed by a former Taoiseach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23695/11]

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

110 Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Taoiseach if he will deal with a matter regarding expenditure of public money (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23798/11]

Anne Ferris

Ceist:

111 Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Taoiseach the measures he will take to reduce the phone allowances and secretarial allowances of retired Taoisigh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23999/11]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 to 111, inclusive, together.

Under the terms of an initiative introduced by the Department of Finance in August 2001, my Department pays the salary of secretarial assistants employed by former Taoisigh.

A former Taoiseach may employ two secretarial assistants for a period not exceeding five years. After the five year period has elapsed one secretarial assistant may be employed. The initiative also includes provision for purchase of computer equipment necessary for this type of service.

My Department also pays for the telephone expenses incurred by former Taoisigh.

These arrangements are being reviewed as part of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure which is currently underway.

Robert Dowds

Ceist:

112 Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Taoiseach the amount of money spent producing Government reports in both Irish and English on a yearly basis. [25411/11]

The Taoiseach

The following payments were made in 2010 in respect of the production of reports by the Department of the Taoiseach:

(A) Corporate Affairs

Name of Report	Type of Cost	Cost
Annual Report 2007 (English and Irish)*	Printing	€825
Strategy Statement 2008-2010 (English and Irish)*	Printing	€306
Annual Report 2008 (English and Irish)*	Design	€1,815
Annual Report 2008 (English and Irish)*	Translation	€3,840.54
Total Cost		€6,786.54

*Invoices received and paid in 2010 in respect of reports published in previous years.

(B) Organisational Review Programme

The ORP, which was based in the Department of the Taoiseach in 2010, has since transferred to the Department of Public Expenditure.

Name of Report	Type of Cost	Cost
The Second Report of the Organisational Review Programme (English and Irish)	Translation	€10,810.79
The Second Report of the Organisational Review Programme (English and Irish)	Printing	€7,928
Total Cost		€18,738.79

The total costs for 2010 therefore are € 25,525.33.