Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 684: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount spent by his Department on briefcases; the amount refunded to staff in his Department in respect of purchases of briefcases; the number of staff who have received briefcases; the number of staff who have received refunds for briefcases they purchased; the largest single amount paid or refunded in respect of one briefcase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29406/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The information requested by the Deputy is as follows: the cost of briefcases purchased since May 2002 is €3,672.07; the number of briefcases purchased since May 2002 is 33 and the largest single amount paid for a briefcase was €202.50. There have been no refunds made to staff in respect of purchases of briefcases during this time.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 685: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of personal digital assistants provided to staff in his Department; the cost of same; the cost of the most expensive personal digital assistant purchased to date; the grades to which these devices are issued; if personal digital assistants are issued as a matter of course or are subject to preparation of a business case which is subsequently scrutinised; if so, by whom the final decision on allocation of personal digital assistants is made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29421/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I can inform the Deputy that, after evaluation of a number of personal digital assistant-mobile mail devices, the Blackberry platform has been selected for use in my Department. Since 17 May 2002, Blackberry units have been assigned to 62 of my Department's staff and a small number of other devices have been acquired for research and evaluation purposes.

The current cost of these devices is between €195 and €242, depending on the model in question, down from an original cost of €484. The cost of the most expensive device acquired during this period was €669, which was for a more fully featured Windows-based device. This was acquired as part of ongoing research and evaluation of mobile technologies, so as to ensure integration with departmental e-mail and calendar facilities.

Personal digital assistants are issued to the Department's senior management on request and to staff of other grades in accordance with their role, the particular business needs of their division and with the recommendation of the head of the division in question. Their use reflects the high demand made on our increasingly mobile staff for rapid response to issues and enhances communication and productivity, including out of normal office hours.