John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 676: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the costs that are borne by his Department relative to his constituency office and home such as telephone, IT services and so on; if the lease or rent of a constituency office is paid or part paid for by his Department; the number of civil servants appointed to carry out constituency work for him based in the Department or in the constituency office; the costs involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15181/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Department pays €116.97 per month rental for telecommunication services in respect of my constituency office. To date, no bill for usage charges has been received. The Houses of the Oireachtas provides a managed IT service for Ministers' constituency offices, which my Department has availed of. The charge for 2011 is expected to be €4,500. Two civil servants (clerical officers) carry out constituency work for me in the Department. The clerical officer pay scale ranges from €22,015 to €35,515. The cost associated with the provision of office accommodation for my constituency office is not borne by my Department.