Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 8: To ask the Taoiseach if further Cabinet meetings are planned outside Dublin during the remainder of 2005; the projected costs of these meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22339/05]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together.

The costs arising to my Department for the Government meeting in City Hall, Cork, are estimated to be in the order of €6,000. This is accounted for mainly by support staff accommodation, overtime and expenses.

The holding of Government meetings outside Dublin is very much welcomed by communities in the areas visited and we have achieved a reasonable geographic spread with meetings held in counties Laois, Roscommon, Waterford, Louth, Kerry and Donegal so far. I see such meetings as a good usage of Government time as they present an opportunity to meet with organisations and groups from these areas and can serve to give a profile to a particular location. Accordingly, the Government intends, as the occasion arises, to continue holding such meetings from time to time. However, there are currently no plans for any such meetings.