Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 476: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount of money spent on paper and stationary in 2007: the amount of this money spent on recycled paper. [25140/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department purchases paper and stationery from suppliers selected by the Government Supplies Agency.

I understand that the Deputy's question specifically relates to the cost of photocopying paper and letterhead stationery used by my Department. The amount of money spent by my Department on these supplies for the year to-date is €41,881.40 and €13,043.77 respectively. While the photocopying paper and letterhead stationery now used are not made from recycled paper, I should point out that most of the envelopes used in my Department are made from recycled paper.

A number of years ago my Department undertook a trial use of recycled photocopying paper. A number of technical difficulties arose at that time and it was decided not to continue the use of that type of paper. However, the matter is now being reviewed in light of improvements in the quality of recycled paper available to purchase.