I assume that the Deputy is referring to costs arising where photographers were engaged by my Department to cover Ministerial or Departmental events.
The following table lists the occasions on which photographers were booked for such events for the period since the establishment of my Department in June 2011 to date, the photographers or photographic companies engaged, and the actual or estimated cost associated with each specific occasion. The total cost amounts to €4,081.52. This includes costs both for the booking of photographers and some general ancillary costs, such as postage, etc, where relevant. In a small number of cases, final invoices are still awaited.
TABLE
|
Cost incurred by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to the engagement of photographers to cover Ministerial/Departmental events from June 2011 to date
|
|
Occasion
|
Photographer
|
Cost
|
|
Edinburgh Festival Fringe event
|
Alastair Devine
|
€362.23
|
|
Launch of Introduction of Architectural Heritage of County Galway
|
Joe Travers
|
€100
|
|
Culture Night, Dublin
|
Maxwell Photography
|
€599.25
|
|
2011 National Famine Commemoration, Clones
|
Philip Fitzpatrick
|
€400
|
|
2011 Open House Dublin, Lir Theatre, in conjunction with the Irish Architecture Foundation
|
Alice Clancy
|
€0.00*
|
|
2011 National Famine Conference, Dublin
|
Bernie McMahon (Mac Innes Photography)
|
€370.87
|
|
Release of White-Tailed Sea Eagles, Killarney National Park
|
Valerie O’Sullivan
|
€120
|
|
Launch of National Biodiversity Plan, Botanic Gardens, Dublin
|
Mac Innes Photography
|
€283.75
|
|
British-Irish Council Ministerial Meeting (Minority Languages Sector), Co Donegal
|
Tommy Curran
|
€80
|
|
Launch of Treaty Online Project, National Archives, Dublin
|
Mac Innes Photograhy
|
€341.83
|
|
Ballycroy National Park Whaling Exhibition
|
Eamonn O’Boyle
|
€320
|
|
Official Opening of Burren National Park Information Centre, Corofin
|
Nicholas Mac Innes
|
€550
|
|
Association of Performing Arts Presenters Conference 2012 event
|
Erin Baiano
|
€347.89
|
|
Commemoration at Teampallín Bán Famine Graveyard
|
Domnick Walsh Photography
|
€205.70
|
*Part of a package of two events for the price of one.
The hiring of photographers for Ministerial or Departmental events is dependent on a number of factors. These include the nature of the engagement, the expected level of media interest and the national/regional scope of the subject. At all times, value for money is a critical consideration in the context of the booking of photographers.
