Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 174: To ask the Taoiseach if his Department makes the Irish national daily newspapers available on-line for staff within his Department; the number of staff at each grade who each day receive a copy of one Irish daily newspaper which is also available on-line; the number of staff who each day receive a copy of more than one newspaper which is also available on-line; the cost in 2005 of purchases of each printed daily newspaper in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16436/06]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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To assist the business needs of the various Divisions, especially policy Divisions, national daily newspapers are made available to a range of Departmental staff as set out in the table.

In 2005, the overall cost to the Department of all daily printed Irish and international papers was €75,234.09. The cost for the Irish Times was €30,029, the Irish Independent €18,014 and the Examiner €7,548. Two of these are available free of charge on-line, the other is a subscription based service.

The Library service of the Department maintains on-line subscriptions to a wide range of publications, particularly specialist ones. These are availed of by staff in support of their Departmental research activities. The range of such service is kept under review and will be expanded in accordance with demand.