Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 277: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has a proposal to introduce new procedures reviewing the role and function of assistant film classifiers; if he will disclose the amount of money paid for travel and subsistence allowance to each assistant film classifier each year for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24420/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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There are ten Assistant Classifiers in the Irish Film Classification Office at present, who were appointed in accordance with Section 2(1)(a) of the Censorship of Films (Amendment) Act 1992. Their principal function is to assist the Director of Film Classification in the performance of his or her functions.

Earlier this year, fundamental changes in the working practices of Assistant Classifiers were introduced with a view to realising significant savings in the operation of that Office. I anticipate that arising out of these changes, travel and related costs will fall very considerably in a full year.

In terms of individual payments for travel and subsistence for the years in question, the amounts ranged from €19,500 - €200 (2004), €19,000 - €600 (2005), €26,000 - €170 (2006), €29,000 - €700 (2007), €26,000 - €500 (2008) and €8,400 - €670 (to 16 June, 2009).