Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 267: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs 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. [30275/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Government Offsetting Scheme was introduced in June 2007 to fulfil commitments given in the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012 to introduce carbon offsetting for all air travel by Ministers and officials on Government business. The relevant payments are made to the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), located in Vienna, which has been charged with administering the scheme on Ireland's behalf.

The table below shows the carbon offset payments that my Department has made in respect of official air travel arising from the exercise of functions by relevant Ministers/Minister of State at my Department for the periods 2007, 2008 and 2009. Payments are made on an annual basis and no payments have been made as yet for 2010.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 268: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the total cost of travel and subsistence to public servants in his 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 he will state to whom this money, if any, has been awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30290/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has decentralised to interim accommodation in Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo, as part of the 2003 Decentralisation Programme. All travel and subsistence paid to staff in my Department is in accordance with Department of Finance guidelines and all such costs relating to decentralisation are paid from within existing resources.

The amount of travel and subsistence paid to decentralised staff in Tubbercurry, who travelled to Dublin and Brussels on official business during the periods referred to, is set out in the table below.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 269: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs 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. [30305/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised that my Department incurred expenditure of the nature referred to by the Deputy of €45,222 in 2009 and €38,603 in 2010 to date.

Key areas where expenditure on advertising was incurred included:

· my Department's entry in the State section (green pages) of the 2010 Telephone Directory;

· a public invitation for applications for membership of the Ministerial Council on Integration;

· notice for applications under the new phase of the 'Equality for Women' measure of the National Women's Strategy 2007-2016; and

· a notice relating to the National Walks Scheme.