Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the total spend by his Department on carbon offsets for official travel undertaken by him and his Minister of State for 2007, 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010; to whom this money, if any, has been awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30278/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Government Offsetting Scheme was established to introduce carbon offsetting for official air travel undertaken by Ministers and officials. The scheme is co-ordinated by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and applies to official air travel undertaken since 14 June 2007. Under the scheme, an annual payment, based on carbon dioxide emissions associated with official air travel, is made by Departments to a fund which is administered on Ireland's behalf by the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP). REEEP is a non-profit, specialist organisation located in Vienna, which promotes renewable energy and energy efficiency. The first contribution made by my Department under the Government Offsetting Scheme was made in August 2009 and covered travel undertaken on commercial flights in the period 14 June 2007 to 31 December 2008. The payment amounted to €8,811.73.

A second payment, covering air travel on commercial flights in the period 1 January to 31 December 2009, was made by my Department in June of this year and amounted to €3,942.60. These payments covered air travel undertaken at Ministerial level and official level. It is not feasible to separate out the contribution of Ministers from officials in calculating payments due under the scheme. Carbon offsetting calculations in respect of travel undertaken by Ministers and officials using the Government jet are determined by the Department of Defence and I am advised that the offsetting costs of these flights are paid by the Department of An Taoiseach. Details of the final beneficiaries of the offsetting fund are a matter for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government as the coordinating Department for the Government Offsetting Scheme.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the total cost of travel and subsistence to public servants in her Department arising from travel to meetings or events in Dublin and Brussels from offices that have been decentralised for 2010 to date, for 2009, and for 2008; if she will state to whom this money, if any, has been awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30293/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has decentralised offices located in Kilkenny and Carlow. The Patents Office is located in Kilkenny, while part of the Companies Registration Office and the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) are located in Carlow. NERA also has regional offices in Dublin, Sligo, Shannon and Cork. At present, 57 staff work in Kilkenny, while 129 staff are based in Carlow and the regional offices of NERA outside of Dublin.

My Department's accounting system does not capture details of travel costs to individual destinations or events. Therefore, it is not feasible to provide details of costs associated with attendance at meetings or events specifically in Dublin or Brussels. Details of travel to specific destinations could only be obtained by retrieving and reviewing all original travel claims submitted in respect of all staff of the offices in question over the last three years. This would be a costly exercise in its own right in terms of the absorption of resources and would be difficult to justify.

However, I can provide the Deputy with the total cost of travel and subsistence related to all EU business for staff of the Patents Office, the Companies Registration Office in Carlow and NERA. These costs may include travel to destinations other than Brussels in connection with EU business. The total costs for 2008, 2009 and 2010 to date are provided on the table below.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the total spend of his Department on public advertisements in national and local print media, radio and television for 2009 and to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30308/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The total spend of my Department and the Offices of my Department on public advertisements in national and local print media, radio and television for 2009 was in the region of €189,000. Statutory requirements accounted for approximately 80% of this overall spend. The spend, to date in 2010, for my Department and the Offices of my Department, on public advertisements in national and local print media, radio and television is in the region of €59,000. Again, statutory requirements, accounted for approximately 90% of the spend, so far this year.