Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 163: To ask the Taoiseach the cost of official domestic travel including all transport costs, accommodation, meals and other incidentals incurred by himself and the Ministers of State at his Department in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36674/09]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The cost to my Department of official domestic travel, including all transport costs, accommodation, meals and other incidentals incurred by myself, the former Taoiseach and the Ministers of State in 2007, 2008 and to end of September 2009 is detailed in the following table:

This excludes (i) the cost of travel using official vehicles, which is a matter for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, (ii) the cost of travel using the Ministerial air transport service, which is a matter for the Department of Defence, and (iii) the costs of transport of the Minister of State for European Affairs, which is charged to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

My Department's travel policy adheres to the guidelines laid down by the Department of Finance. It is applicable to all staff and sets out the policy regarding the appropriate level of expenditure in relation to the requirements of official travel.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 164: To ask the Taoiseach the cost of foreign travel, including flights, accommodation, food, subsistence, travel and other incidental costs, incurred by himself and Ministers of State at his Department in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36675/09]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The cost of foreign travel, including flights, accommodation, food, subsistence and other incidental costs, incurred by myself, the former Taoiseach and Ministers of State at my Department, and including Private Office Staff (normally 2-3 officials), and Security who travelled on these occasions in 2007, 2008 and to the end of September 2009 is detailed in the following table:

Typically the costs include the following:

foreign subsistence,

hotel costs,

air fares,

taxi expenses,

car hire,

telecommunication expenses,

carbon emission charges and

other receipted expenses.

It should be noted that the majority of costs in relation to the Minister of European Affairs are in respect of Private Office staff, as the Minister's expenses are paid by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 165: To ask the Taoiseach the costs incurred by his constituency office, and the constituency offices of the Ministers of State at his Department, of leaflet design, production, delivery and other related costs in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36676/09]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has not incurred any costs relating to leaflet design, production or delivery for either my constituency office nor the constituency office of the Minister of State (Chief Whip) in 2007, 2008 to the end of September 2009. The Minister of State for European Affair's constituency office is based in the Department of Foreign Affairs.