Tuesday, 18 Sep 2012

Written Answers Nos. 1301-1317

Defence Forces Recruitment

Ceisteanna (1301)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Ceist:

1301. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Defence if a person who was imprisoned for dangerous driving causing death may apply for the Irish Army. [37667/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

Defence Force Regulations stipulate that a person who has been convicted of a serious offence by a civil court will not be enlisted into the Defence Forces. I am advised by the Military Authorities that a conviction for dangerous driving causing death is considered to be a serious offence. Hence, a person duly convicted would be ineligible for recruitment to the Defence Forces.

Labour Court Recommendations

Ceisteanna (1302)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

1302. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide a list of all Labour Court recommendations in respect of the Defence Forces that have not been complied with in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37763/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

There are no Labour Court recommendations in respect of the Defence Forces that have not been complied with in full.

Defence Forces Review

Ceisteanna (1303)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

1303. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Defence his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37865/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

Arising from the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure in 2011, I secured the agreement of the Government to maintain the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) at a level of 9,500 serving personnel. While this represents a very significant commitment on the part of Government, at this strength level it was not possible to maintain the then organisational structure of the Defence Forces, which had been designed to support a serving strength of 11,500. As a result, I tasked the Secretary General of the Department of Defence and the Chief of Staff to conduct a detailed review of the organisation and structure of the Defence Forces and to bring forward proposals on an appropriate organisation for a Defence Forces of 9,500 serving personnel which could continue to deliver the services required by Government.

In July 2012, I announced details of the re-organisation. The re-organisation includes a reduction in the number of PDF personnel working full time with the Army Reserve (known as the Cadre) to a total of 48. As the re-organisation of the PDF primarily impacted the Army, no decisions have been made, as yet, regarding PDF Cadre with the Naval Service.

While the re-organisation impacts numbers of PDF personnel available for the administration and support for the Reserve Defence Force (RDF), the organisation of the RDF itself has not been addressed. Decisions in relation to the organisation of the RDF will be made following the completion of the Value for Money Review of the Reserve Defence Force, which is due to be finalised in the next few weeks.

Defence Forces Reserve Strength

Ceisteanna (1304)

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

1304. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Defence if it is proposed to shut down the Reserve Defence Force entirely until some unspecified time in 2013. [38354/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

A Value for Money Review of the Reserve Defence Force is ongoing and the Steering Committee, established to oversee the VFM Review of the Reserve, met most recently on the 12 September. I understand that the Steering Committee are working towards completing the report by the end of this month.

No decisions have been made regarding the future development of the Reserve pending my receipt and consideration of the Value for Money report.

Defence Forces Veterans Associations

Ceisteanna (1305)

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

1305. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Defence if he will support the Irish Defence Veterans Association in 2012-2013. [39254/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

There is a wide range of veterans associations involving serving, retired and ex-Defence Forces personnel. These associations represent various interests at local, regional and national level, including regimental and comrades associations.

There is no impediment to any group of veterans forming associations such as the Irish Defence Forces Veterans Associations, and indeed many do. However, given their number and range it is not possible to support all the various associations which currently exist or those which may be formed in the future.

As a matter of policy, two veteran organisations are formally recognised and receive financial support from my Department, namely, the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen and Women (O.N.E.) and the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA). It is not planned to extend official recognition beyond these two organisations.

Defence Forces Operations

Ceisteanna (1306)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Ceist:

1306. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the cost of patrolling bogs by the Air Corps to check if illegal cutting is occurring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36979/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

In accordance with the roles assigned to them in the White Paper on Defence, the Air Corps are committed to providing support to the civil authorities including Government Agencies such as the National Parks & Wildlife Service, (NPWS). As part of the efforts to ensure Ireland’s compliance with the EU ban on turf cutting in Special Areas of Conservation, the NPWS submitted a request to the Department of Defence seeking the transport of NPWS personnel in Air Corps aircraft to monitor these areas.

The Department of Defence follows the normal practice in the aviation business of costing aircraft by reference to the cost per flying hour. For these missions, the Cessna aircraft has been used and the average hourly direct cost of operating this aircraft, which includes fuel and maintenance costs, is €185. The cost of providing assistance to the NPWS to-date in 2012 is €21,830, (based on approximately 118 hours of flying time).

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (1307, 1317)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

1307. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Defence the total cost to the Exchequer of the two Government jets since this Government came into office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36998/12]

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

1317. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide in tabular form a detailed breakdown of each journey undertaken by each of the two Government jets; the purpose of each trip; the members of the Government or other Ministers present, if any, since this Government came into office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37382/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1307 and 1317 together.

The Gulfstream IV and Learjet 45 aircraft are primarily used to provide the Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) and were specifically acquired for this purpose. From time to time these aircraft are also assigned a range of military and other taskings including Air Ambulance missions, humanitarian operations and support for Search and Rescue, Mountain Rescue and Pollution Control operations.

Details of the usage of these aircraft for MATS purposes from 9 March 2011 to 31 August 2012 are set out in the tabular statement below, and include details of the requesting Minister(s), dates of travel, mission route and Ministerial time on board. The purpose of each trip is a matter for the requesting Department and is not included in the statement. The details provided relate to requests from Government Ministers that have been approved by the Taoiseach.

The Department follows the normal practice in the aviation business of costing aircraft by reference to the cost per flying hour under each of two headings: The direct cost which includes costs which are additional to those associated with having the aircraft and which only arise when the aircraft is flown including maintenance, fuel and support services such as catering costs, cleaning services and airport handling charges; The total cost which is the direct cost plus the costs associated with having the aircraft, including depreciation and personnel costs.

Costs in 2011/12:

Aircraft	Average Direct Cost Per Hour €	Average Total Cost Per Hour €
Gulfstream	3,270	3,790
Learjet	1,940	4,200

GULFSTREAM IV (From 9/3/2011 to 31/8/2012)

Date	Return Date	Ministerial  Time On Board (Minutes)	Route	Minister
10/03/2011	12/03/2011	185	Baldonnel - Brussels - Knock - Baldonnel	An Taoiseach
15/03/2011	18/03/2011	825	Baldonnel - Washington - Baldonnel	An Taoiseach  / Tánaiste Foreign Affairs
24/03/2011	25/03/2011	180	Baldonnel - Brussels - Baldonnel	An Taoiseach
12/04/2011	12/04/2011	200	Baldonnel - Luxembourg - Baldonnel	Tánaiste Foreign Affairs / Justice and Equality / MOS Foreign Affairs
17/04/2011	18/04/2011	120	Baldonnel - Northolt - Baldonnel	An Taoiseach
04/05/2011	06/05/2011	810	Baldonnel - Teteboro - White Plains - Teteboro - Knock - Baldonnel	An Taoiseach
09/06/2011	10/06/2011	200	Baldonnel - Luxembourg - Baldonnel	Justice and Equality
19/06/2011	19/06/2011	100	Baldonnel  - Luxembourg - Baldonnel	Tánaiste  Foreign Affairs
21/06/2011	22/06/2011	300	Baldonnel - Vienna - Baldonnel	Tánaiste  Foreign Affairs
20/06/2011	20/06/2011	120	Baldonnel - Northolt - Stansted - Baldonnel	An Taoiseach / Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
23/06/2011	24/06/2011	180	Baldonnel - Brussels - Baldonnel	An Taoiseach / MOS Taoiseach
21/07/2011	21/07/2011	180	Baldonnel - Brussels - Baldonnel	An Taoiseach / MOS Taoiseach
25/09/2011	26/09/2011	420	Baldonnel - Algiers - Oran - Baldonnel	Agriculture, Marine and Food
29/09/2011	30/09/2011	330	Baldonnel - Warsaw - Baldonnel	An  Taoiseach
12/10/2011	13/10/2011	180	Baldonnel - Brussels - Baldonnel	An Taoiseach / Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
22/10/2011	23/10/2011	180	Baldonnel - Brussels - Dublin	An Taoiseach / MOS Taoiseach
06/11/2011	07/11/2011	455	Baldonnel - Moscow - Baldonnel	Tánaiste  Foreign Affairs
16/11/2011	16/11/2011	275	Baldonnel - Berlin - Frankfurt - Baldonnel	An  Taoiseach
30/11/2011	30/11/2011	180	Baldonnel - Brussels - Baldonnel	Defence
07/12/2011	07/12/2011	345	Baldonnel - Vilnius - Baldonnel	Tánaiste  Foreign Affairs
09/12/2011	09/12/2011	90	Baldonnel - Brussels - Baldonnel	An Taoiseach / MOS Taoiseach
12/01/2012	12/01/2012	120	Baldonnel - Northolt - Baldonnel	An Taoiseach
25/01/2012	27/01/2012	240	Baldonnel - Zurich - Baldonnel	An Taoiseach
30/01/2012	30/01/2012	180	Baldonnel - Brussels - Baldonnel	An Taoiseach / MOS Taoiseach
08/02/2012	09/02/2012	790	Baldonnel - Teteboro - Whiteplains - Teteboro - Dublin	An Taoiseach / Enterprise/Trade and Innovation
15/02/2012	17/02/2012	835	Baldonnel - Teteboro - White Plains - Teteboro - Boston - Baldonnel	An Taoiseach
23/02/2012	24/02/2012	385	Baldonnel - Berlin - Rome - Baldonnel	An Taoiseach
29/02/2012	02/03/2012	180	Baldonnel - Brussels - Baldonnel	An Taoiseach / Finance / MOS Taoiseach
15/03/2012	21/03/2012	1050	Baldonnel - Chicago - Southbend - Whiteplains - Washington - Baldonnel	An Taoiseach
12/03/2012	12/03/2012	120	Baldonnel - Northolt - Baldonnel	An Taoiseach
26/04/2012	27/04/2012	200	Baldonnel - Luxembourg - Baldonnel	Agriculture, Marine and Food / Justice and Equality
23/05/2012	24/05/2012	180	Baldonnel - Brussels  - Baldonnel	An Taoiseach  / Tánaiste (Foreign Affairs and Trade)
11/06/2012	14/06/2012	840	Baldonnel - Yerevan - Tbilisi - Batumi - Baku - Baldonnel	Tánaiste (Foreign Affairs and Trade)
22/06/2012	22/06/2012	185	Baldonnel - Edinburgh - Cork - Baldonnel	An Taoiseach / Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
25/06/2012	25/06/2012	200	Baldonnel - Luxembourg - Baldonnel	Tánaiste (Foreign Affairs and Trade)
28/06/2012	29/06/2012	180	Baldonnel - Brussels - Baldonnel	An Taoiseach  / Tánaiste (Foreign Affairs and Trade) / MOS Taoiseach
09/07/2012	11/07/2012	680	Baldonnel - Brussels - Larnaca - Baldonnel	Finance/Health
17/07/2012	17/07/2012	210	Baldonnel - Frankfurt - Baldonnel	Finance
23/07/2012	24/07/2012	495	Baldonnel - Berlin - Rome - Budapest - Baldonnel	Agriculture, Marine and Food
27/07/2012	28/07/2012	120	Baldonnel - Northolt - Baldonnel	An Taoiseach

LEARJET 45 (From 9 March 2011 to 31 August 2012)

Date	Return Date	Ministerial Time On Board (Minutes)	Route	Minister
13/03/2011	14/03/2011	230	Baldonnel - Shannon - Brussels - Baldonnel	Finance / Environment, Heritage and Local Government
21/03/2011	21/03/2011	180	Baldonnel - Brussels - Baldonnel	Finance / MOS Foreign Affairs
07/04/2011	09/04/2011	330	Baldonnel - Budapest - Baldonnel	Finance
16/05/2011	17/05/2011	180	Baldonnel - Brussels - Baldonnel	Finance / MOS Taoiseach
20/05/2011	20/05/2011	80	Baldonnel - Cork - Baldonnel	An Taoiseach
07/06/2011	07/06/2011	100	Baldonnel - Luxembourg - Baldonnel	Agriculture, Marine and Food
11/07/2011	12/07/2011	180	Baldonnel - Brussels - Baldonnel	Finance
15/09/2011	17/09/2011	290	Baldonnel - Wroclaw - Baldonnel	Finance
22/09/2011	23/09/2011	360	Baldonnel - Brussels - Wroclaw - Brussels - Baldonnel	Defence / Justice and Equality
03/10/2011	04/10/2011	200	Baldonnel - Luxembourg - Baldonnel	Finance
21/10/2011	22/10/2011	180	Baldonnel - Brussels - Baldonnel	Finance
26/10/2011	26/10/2011	180	Baldonnel - Brussels - Baldonnel	An Taoiseach / MOS Taoiseach
07/11/2011	08/11/2011	180	Baldonnel - Brussels - Baldonnel	Finance
24/11/2011	25/11/2011	280	Baldonnel - Poznan - Baldonnel	Public Expenditure and Reform
29/11/2011	30/11/2011	180	Baldonnel - Brussels - Baldonnel	Finance
11/01/2012	12/01/2012	300	Baldonnel - Vienna - Baldonnel	Tánaiste (Foreign Affairs)
18/01/2012	18/01/2012	250	Baldonnel - Berlin - Baldonnel	Finance
23/01/2012	24/01/2012	250	Baldonnel - Brussels - Frankfurt - Baldonnel	Finance
26/01/2012	29/01/2012	725	Baldonnel - Naples - Tel Aviiv - Naples - Baldonnel	Tánaiste (Foreign Affairs)
09/02/2012	09/02/2012	180	Baldonnel - Brussels - Baldonnel	Finance
20/02/2012	21/02/2012	180	Baldonnel - Brussels - Baldonnel	MOS Finance
24/02/2012	24/02/2012	385	Baldonnel - Tunis - Baldonnel	Tánaiste (Foreign Affairs)
08/03/2012	09/03/2012	180	Baldonnel - Brussels - Baldonnel	Environment, Community and Local Government
12/03/2012	13/03/2012	180	Baldonnel - Brussels - Baldonnel	Finance
29/03/2012	30/03/2012	240	Baldonnel - Copenhagen - Baldonnel	Finance
23/04/2012	23/04/2012	200	Baldonnel - Luxembourg - Baldonnel	Tánaiste (Foreign Affairs)
01/05/2012	02/05/2012	180	Baldonnel - Brussels - Baldonnel	Finance
06/05/2012	07/05/2012	330	Baldonnel - Warsaw - Baldonnel	Finance
14/05/2012	15/05/2012	180	Baldonnel - Brussels - Baldonnel	Finance
21/06/2012	22/06/2012	200	Baldonnel - Luxembourg - Baldonnel	Finance

Departmental Bodies

Ceisteanna (1308, 1309, 1315, 1339, 1342)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

1308. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Defence the number of agencies, authorities, boards, committee s, working groups, tribunals, council services, task forces, agencies or other quangos set up by his Department since February 2011; the number abolished since then; the extra cost of quangos which were established; the savings from the abolition of quangos; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37242/12]

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

1309. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Defence the estimated cost of each quango in his Department; the amount expected to be saved from the mergers of quangos in his Department; the basis for this figure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37258/12]

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

1315. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Defence the total number of board appointees he has made since he came to office; the names, salaries and expenses of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37354/12]

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

1339. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Defence the number of State bodies that have been set up since 9 March 2011; the rationale behind these decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39994/12]

Gerald Nash

Ceist:

1342. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Defence the number of appointments that have been made to positions available on the boards of semi-State companies and statutory agencies following public advertisement; if he will provide details of the names of persons who have been appointed under this initiative and the agencies on which they now sit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40032/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1308, 1309, 1315, 1339 and 1342 together.

The State Boards under the aegis of the Department of Defence are the Civil Defence Board, the Army Pensions Board and the Board of Coiste an Asgard.

The budget allocation for these agencies for 2011 and 2012 is set out as follows:

Year	Civil Defence Board	Army Pensions Board	Coiste an Asgard
2011	€5.585m (Grant In Aid)	€103,000	Nil
2012	€5.585m (Grant In Aid)	€103,000	Nil

The Civil Defence Act 2002 provides that the Board shall consist of at least eight but not more than fourteen members who shall be appointed by the Minister for Defence. Legislation is currently being drafted to dissolve the Civil Defence Board and transfer the functions of the Board back into the Department of Defence. The transfer of the functions of the Civil Defence Board back into the Department of Defence is expected to realise savings in running costs of approximately €60,000 per annum. I appointed the current Board as an interim measure from 2011. In this context, none of the positions were advertised.

Membership of the interim Board appointed from 2011 is set out in the following table:

Name	Nominating Bodies
Civil Defence Board Chairperson
Mr. Brian SpainDirector, Department of Defence	Nominated by Minister for Defence
Civil Defence Board Members
Mr. Cathal DuffyPrincipal Officer, Department of Defence	Nominated by the Minister for Defence
Ms. Clare TiernanPrincipal Officer, Department of Defence	Nominated by the Minister for Defence
Mr. Robert MooneyPrincipal Officer, Department of Defence	Nominated by the Minister for Defence
Mr. Bill SmithDirector General, Civil Defence Board	Appointed as Director General, Civil Defence Board
Mr. Ned GleesonCounty Manager, Limerick City Council	Nominated by City & County Managers Association
Mr. Keith LeonardAssistant Fire Advisor	Nominated by the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government
Dr. Barbara Rafferty	Nominated by Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland
Ms. Becci Cantrell	Nominated by the Environmental Protection Agency
Ms. Veronica FordeAssistant Civil Defence Officer	Nominated by the Civil Defence Officers Association
Lt. Col. Tony KellySSO, Defence Forces	Nominated by the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces
Chief Superintendent Orla Mc PartlinAn Garda Síochána	Nominated by the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána
Mr. Fergal Conroy	Elected volunteer member of Civil Defence
Ms. Eileen Joyce	Elected staff member of the Civil Defence Board

There is no remuneration attached to membership of the Civil Defence Board.

The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body established under the Army Pensions Act, 1927. The Act specifies that the Board shall consist of a chairman and two ordinary members. The two ordinary members must be qualified medical practitioners of whom one must be an officer of the Army Medical Corps. The chairman and the non-military ordinary member are appointed by the Minister for Defence with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Army Medical Corps ordinary member is appointed by the Minister for Defence on the recommendation of the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces.

The position of Army Medical Corps ordinary member became vacant due to retirement in 2011, and I have since appointed Commandant Adam Lagun to the Board on the recommendation of the Chief of Staff. As the Army Pensions Act 1927 specifies that one of the ordinary members must be an officer of the Army Medical Corps, this position could not be advertised on the Department’s website. Details of Commandant Lagun’s appointment to the Army Pensions Board were published in the Iris Oifigiúil.

The chairperson and the civilian doctor are entitled to annual fees of €7,618 and €5,079 respectively.

Coiste an Asgard was the company set up to manage the National Sail Training Scheme. In September 2008, the company’s sail training vessel ‘Asgard II’ sank in the Bay of Biscay. In December 2009, the previous Government announced that the National Sail Training Scheme was to be discontinued and the funding for 2010 was cancelled. Up to and including 2009, the company had been receiving funding from the National Lottery of approximately €800,000 per annum.

The Company has been inactive since and there are no crew or staff left on the payroll. The winding-up process is well advanced and it is anticipated that the company will be in a position to close by the end of this year, following a final audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General. There is no remuneration attached to membership of the Board of Coiste an Asgard.

No new agencies, authorities, committees, working groups, tribunals, council services, task forces, or quangos have been established since February 2011.

Job Creation

Ceisteanna (1310, 1311, 1312)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

1310. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Defence the number of new jobs created by his Department as a result of the jobs initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37274/12]

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

1311. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Defence the number of new jobs created by his Department as a result of the action plan on jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37290/12]

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

1312. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Defence the number of new jobs created by his Department as a result of Budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37306/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1310 to 1312, inclusive, together.

The Croke Park Agreement provides that there will be full support in the Civil Service and State Agencies for programmes and initiatives to support and assist the unemployed.

The JobBridge National Internship Scheme is a key part of the Government’s Jobs Initiative and has been set up with a view to giving job seekers the opportunity to take part in a quality internship with a host organisation.

Since the launch of the National Internship Scheme in July 2011 the Defence Forces have identified 53 internship opportunities, and 4 have been identified on the civil side of the Department of Defence.

12 jobseekers have commenced their internships with the Defence Forces and 3 with the Department of Defence, one of whom has recently secured full time employment.

In addition, the Air Corps has in recent times facilitated the training of 15 redundant Air Craft Maintenance apprentices formerly employed by SR Technics who were being trained under a FAS apprentice scheme.

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (1313)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

1313. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Defence the total amount spent on taxis by his Department since February 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37322/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

The total amount spent on taxis by my Department since February 2011 to August 2012 is €15,380.

In accordance with Department of Public Expenditure & Reform guidelines, staff of my Department are required to use public transport, wherever possible, where travel is deemed necessary for business purposes. The hire of taxis to travel to and from meetings is only permitted where no suitable public transport is available or feasible.

Departmental Staff Data

Ceisteanna (1314)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

1314. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Defence the number of press officers in his Department; the number of press officers in each agency under his auspices; the total cost of press officers in his Department and in agencies under his auspices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37338/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

The number of Press Officers in my Department and the Defence Forces is set out as follows.

Grade Salary Scale

Department of Defence Press Officer	Assistant Principal Officer x 1	€61,966 - €76,768
Defence Forces Press Officers	Commandant x 1	€54,466 - €68,190
-	Captain x 2	€45,077 - €57,237

Press Officers do not receive any additional pay or allowances in the performance of their duties.

Question No. 1315 answered with Question No. 1308.

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (1316)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

1316. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Defence if he will detail, in tabular form, the total photography costs for his Department since coming to office inclusive of costs incurred from use of the Ministerial allowance; the occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographers was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37370/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:

Date	Occasion	Company	Cost	Breakdown of Cost
25/3/2011	Ministerial File Portrait Package	Maxwell Photography	€393.25 (Including VAT)	Portrait Package Set up and head shot Online Viewing gallery 1 High resolution image
9/11/2011	Launch of Winter Ready Campaign	Maxwell Photography	€849.42 (Including VAT)	Booking Fee Taking and processing Digital Contact Sheet Images sent to media Email to merrionstr.ie Additional hour on assignment

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, following an EU-level advertised procurement process, has established a Framework Agreement comprising five firms for the provision of photography services. The Framework was established in February 2012 and is open for use by all Government Departments and Offices. It is my intention that my Department will avail of this Framework Agreement for any future photography needs.

I am satisfied that the usage and costs incurred in the hiring of photographers represents value for money. I remain committed to an overall policy of reducing costs and maximising efficiencies.

Question No. 1317 answered with Question No. 1307.