Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 January 2019
102. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will publish the airline costs for his Department for 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2693/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for two Expenditure Votes, Vote 27 - International Co-operation and Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The airline costs incurred by Ministers and staff of the Department, across both Votes, in the year ending 31 December 2018, including in the network of overseas Missions, was €2,650,469. These costs are provisional and subject to audit. As the Deputy will appreciate, the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of necessity involves extensive travel. In 2018 airline costs represented 1.3% of the Department's total administration budget.
My Department complies with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines on official travel. The central aim of the Departmental travel policy is to minimise official travel costs and to achieve value for money for expenditure necessarily incurred, consistent with the effective discharge of official duties.
