Departmental Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 November 2019

Wednesday, 20 November 2019

Ceisteanna (293)

Shane Cassells

Ceist:

293. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount spent on purchasing mobile telephones for staff in her Department for work-related business in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, by grade; if her Department has a contract with a mobile telephone company (details supplied) to supply mobile telephones if needed; if so, the name of the company; the date on which the contract for the supply of mobile telephones to her Department is next due to expire; and the robust steps taken to ensure that the costs incurred on work related telephones are the best value for the taxpayer. [47915/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in tabular form as follows.

Grade	2016	2017	2018	2019
Minister	1	0	0	0
Secretary General	0	0	1	0
Assistant Secretary	1	0	1	3
Principal Officer	12	14	4	3
Assistant Principal Officer	13	24	7	0
Higher Executive Officer	2	10	1	1
Administrative Officer	0	1	0	0
Executive Officer	0	1	1	0
Clerical Officer	1	1	1	0
Service Officer	0	1	0	0
Other	3	6	0	0
Total Cost	€4,050.00	€9,155.00	€4,445.00	€1,438.00

My Department is currently in contract with Eir under the Office of Government Procurement framework agreement for Provision of Mobile Voice and Data Communications and Associated Products and Services. This contract is due to expire on 16 May 2020. This framework contract provides for the provision of a standard Smart Data Business Bundle which includes unlimited national calls and texts and 5 GB of data.

My Department offers a standard smartphone to officials as part of the framework agreement. In exceptional circumstances, a higher specification phone and data may be appropriate and will be considered on a case by case basis.