Departmental Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2012

Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Ceisteanna (1034, 1035)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

1034. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will detail in tabular form the total cost of providing entertainment for his Department since coming to office inclusive of costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance; the occasions for which entertainment was provided; the entertainers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion; if there is a policy regarding the booking of entertainers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37444/12]

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

1035. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the amount spent on food and drink by his Department; if he will provide a breakdown of what this involved; the occasions on which food and drink was provided; those present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37460/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1034 and 1035 together.

A breakdown of expenditure on entertainment for official business purposes by my Department since the appointment of the Government is set out in the following table.

Description	Amount
Meeting Expenses	€38,825
Lunches	€21,986
Evening Functions/Dinners/Receptions	€8,300
Total	€69,111

These costs are primarily incurred in the day to day hosting of official meetings in respect of which the Department’s in-house catering facilities are substantially used. Further details of these costs, including the attendees at functions, are not readily available and, given the range of meetings conducted by my Department, would require a disproportionate amount of staff time and resources to compile. Staff are required to exercise the strictest economy when incurring entertainment costs, which are monitored in accordance with the provisions of Department of Finance Appendix of Circular 25/2000 Approved Expenditure Limits on Entertainment.