Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 369: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount of money spent on hotel accommodation by his Department and each State agency under the aegis of his Department for each of the years 2004 to date in 2008; if he will provide the information available in tabular readable form. [46674/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Staff of the Department employed on official business away from their headquarters are paid subsistence expenses within the rates authorised from time to time by the Minister for Finance. The subsistence allowance payable is not intended to meet the whole cost of subsistence when absent from home and headquarters and is not intended to be a source of emolument or profit. Subsistence allowances are payable only in respect of necessary absence from headquarters. The cost to staff members of hotel accommodation incurred by them is met wholly or partly from the subsistence allowance paid to them.

From time to time my Department incurs accommodation costs. The schedule below shows the direct cost of accommodation in respect of 2007 and 2008. The figures in respect of 2004-2006 are not readily available.

Details of the costs of hotel accommodation in the organisations under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the Boards and Directors of those organisations.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 370: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the procurement arrangements in place in his Department and each State agency under the aegis of his Department for the sourcing of hotel accommodation for him, for his Departmental staff and staff at each State agency, when overnight accommodation is necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46689/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The procurement by the Department of hotel accommodation for overnight accommodation either for me as Minister or for Departmental staff is determined by and accords with public procurement and/or travel and subsistence guidelines, as prepared by the Department of Finance.

The procurement of services by any of the agencies under the aegis of the Department is determined by applicable guidelines contained in the Department of Finance's Government-endorsed Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. I can confirm that this Code has been brought to the attention of those agencies, which are themselves responsible for compliance with the relevant financial procedures, including procurement guidelines.