Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1077: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount spent by him and Ministers of State, officials, persons in agencies, offices or bodies under the remit of his Department, on foreign travel in the period 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1438/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The total amount spent by my Department on foreign travel, including subsistence costs, in the period 1 January to 31 December 2008 was €841,115. This includes expenditure incurred by me, by the Ministers of State attached to my Department and by officials from my Department and Met Éireann. Details of expenditure incurred by the agencies, offices or bodies under the remit of the Department are a matter for the agencies themselves. The Department's policy on both domestic and foreign travel is that only necessary travel should be undertaken, and this is subject to a system of specific approval, which is designed to ensure that best value for money is obtained.