Departmental Bodies

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 March 2012

Tuesday, 27 March 2012

Ceisteanna (107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113)

Jonathan O'Brien

Ceist:

96 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a breakdown of general law expenses from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14915/12]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

I have shown as follows the details sought. The most significant item of expenditure incurred was in respect of law costs awarded against the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011
Award of Law Costs	€5,722,283	€5,691,519	€7,147,476	€5,957,466	€2,541,660
Psychologists Fees	€38,674	€42,753	€35,333	€23,265	€25,946
Cost Accountants	€100,809	€84,577	€58,794	€63,043	€27,269
Stenographers Fees	€17,253	€28,240	€21,907	€9,512	€9,996
Sundry	€51,405	€61,294	€25,959	€25,505	€17,419
Total	€5,930,424	€5,908,384	€7,289,469	€6,078,790	€2,622,289

Question No. 97 answered with Question No. 89.

Jonathan O'Brien

Ceist:

98 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Taoiseach the number of staff employed in the Office of the Chief State Solicitor; the number of these employees in receipt of salaries over €200,000, and over €150,000 and over €100,000, and their job titles. [14917/12]

The Taoiseach

The answer is as follows:

	2009	2010	2011
CSSO Staff Numbers	249	230	228

Year	Employees Earning	Number	Job Title
2009	Over €200,0001	1	Chief State Solicitor
	Over €150,000	3	Assistant Chief State Solicitor
	Over €100,000	1	Assistant Chief State Solicitor
10	Deputy Assistant Chief State Solicitor
7	Principal Solicitor
1	Principal Legal Executive
2010	Over €200,000	0
	Over €150,000	1	Chief State Solicitor,
1	Assistant Chief State Solicitor
		3	Assistant Chief State Solicitor
9	Deputy Assistant Chief State Solicitor
1	Principal Solicitor
2011	Over €200,000	0
	Over €150,000	1	Chief State Solicitor,
1	Assistant Chief State Solicitor
		3	Assistant Chief State Solicitor
10	Deputy Assistant Chief State Solicitor
3	Principal Solicitor

1The Chief State Solicitor took a voluntary pay cut of €22,931 in 2009 bringing his gross pay to €197,361.

Jonathan O'Brien

Ceist:

99 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Taoiseach the average amount paid to staff in the Office of the Chief State Solicitor for travel and subsistence on an annual basis; the details of the types of expenses staff may recoup; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14918/12]

The Taoiseach

The Office of the Chief State Solicitor complies with the Civil Service Regulations with regard to travel, subsistence and expenses. The types of expenses which can be claimed are those which are laid down in the Department of Finance/Department of Public Expenditure and Reform circulars.

Year	Average Amount
2009	€752.62
2010	€573.91
2011	€588.40

Jonathan O'Brien

Ceist:

100 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a breakdown of spending on postal and telecommunications services in the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. [14919/12]

The Taoiseach

The answer is as follows:

	2009	2010	2011
TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT — Support and Maintenance	€15,293.52	€11,283.28	€11,283.28
TELEPHONIST CONTRACT	€71,293.32	€99,458.391	€85,199.75
TELEPHONES	€213,997.85	€164,444.27	€162,353.66
COURIERS	€17,811.20	€21,925.39	€21,974.47
POSTAL SERVICES	€77,020.01	€71,591.26	€58,276.41
	€395,415.90	€368,702.59	€339,087.57

1Service provided at the end of 2009 was not paid for until 2010.

Jonathan O'Brien

Ceist:

101 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a breakdown of spending on office equipment and external IT services in the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. [14920/12]

The Taoiseach

The answer is as follows:

Type of Service	2009	2010	2011
IT Hardware and Software	€158,031	€123,572	€153,994
External IT Services		€21,272	€24,205
Office Machinery	€43,454	€92,283	€26,863
Equipment and Software maintenance and repairs	€384,262	€280,336	€313,173
Stationery and Printing	€183,457	€202,974	€166,387
IT and Equipment Consumables	€2,327	€18,133	€30,893
Total	€771,531.61	€738,569.81	€715,517

Jonathan O'Brien

Ceist:

102 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Taoiseach the details of any external companies which performed duties for the Office of the Chief State Solicitor during each of the past three years; the types of services they provided; and the amounts they were paid for these services. [14921/12]

The Taoiseach

The answer is as follows:

Type of Service	2009	2010	2011
Security	€412,208	€443,063	€443,266
Cleaning	€130,390	€130262	€127,314
Taxi	€13,517	€20,199	€16,725
Courier	€17,811	€21,925	€21,974
Postal	€77,020	€71,591	€58,276
Telephonist	€71,293	€99,548	€85,200

For security reasons, the Office of the Chief State Solicitor has not disclosed the names of the companies involved in the provision of duties over the last three years.

Jonathan O'Brien

Ceist:

103 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Taoiseach the details of any office premises expenses of the Office of the Chief State Solicitor during each of the past three years; the amount paid in rent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14922/12]

The Taoiseach

The following are the costs of office expenses for the Office of the Chief State Solicitor for 2008 to 2010:

Account	2009	2010	2011
Furniture and Fittings	€191,399	€83,420	€148,655
Utilities	€116,743	€109,362	€106,555
Maintenance and Repairs	€84,417	€166,407	€190,059
	€392,559	€359,190	€445,269

This expenditure comprises costs in relation to Furniture and Fittings, Utilities and Office maintenance and repairs.

The Office of the Chief State Solicitor does not pay any rent in the buildings it occupies. Osmond House is owned by the Office of Public Works and rent for the three floors occupied in The Chancery Building is paid for by the OPW.