Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 520: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount of mobile telephone bills paid directly by his Department in 2006 and to date in 2007; the percentage or amount of this for each year that applies to data charges; the percentage or amount of this for each year that applies to roaming charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33343/07]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 521: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount of mobile telephone bills paid in the form of expenses to staff by his Department in 2006 and to date in 2007; the percentage or amount of this for each year that applies to data charges; the percentage or amount of this for each year that applies to roaming charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33358/07]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 522: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount of mobile telephone bills paid in relation to the departmental mobile telephone assigned to him by his Department in 2006 and to date in 2007; the percentage or amount of this for each year that applies to data charges; the percentage or amount of this for each year that applies to roaming charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33373/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 520, 521, 522, together.

The Department supplies some 1,200 members of staff with mobile phones to assist in the performance of their official duties. The costs of official calls and phone rental on these devices are borne by the department. Arrangements are in place for staff to reimburse costs associated with personal calls on Departmental phones. There are no arrangements in place to pay expenses to staff in respect of business calls made on personally owned phones.

The total amount paid in respect of mobile phone charges in 2006 was €393,860 of which 13% applied to data and 7% to roaming. For the year 2007, so far €381,118 has been paid of which 16% represents data charges and 6% represents roaming.

On my appointment as Minister of Social & Family Affairs in June this year, I was assigned a mobile phone by the Department. The amount paid in respect of this phone to date (21 November 2007) is €1306.16, of which 22% % represents data and 78% represents voice. Roaming charges are not available.