Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 620: To ask the Minister for Health and Children in respect of the current year in terms of full-time equivalents the number of persons employed in her, or if applicable her predecessors', constituency office; the annual amount paid in respect of salaries and expenses to each individual; the location or locations of such constituency office; if those offices are on departmental property, to state the office space dedicated to such an office and the estimated value of same; the estimated cost of the provision of utilities, services and other miscellaneous costs to the office; if she will provide the same information for 2008, 2009 and from 14 June to the end of 2007; if she will provide the same information for Ministers of State attached to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32277/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The information requested by the Deputy is set out below in tabular format. For ease of reference, I am presenting the information on a year by year basis. The Deputy should note that the staffing figures quoted refer to staff located in external constituency offices and within the Department engaged in constituency office work.

The column relating to constituency office costs refers to estimated costs incurred by my Department in the provision of certain services to a Minister's local constituency office. These costs relate in general to the provision phones, fax machines and/or photocopiers, IT equipment, software, configuration and consumable supplies. Where such items are requested by a Minister the policy in my Department is to provide them, where possible, from available stock. When Ministers complete their term of office at my Department these items are returned. It should be noted that these costs do not relate to rental or other maintenance costs of non-Departmental property.

Ministers also utilise some office space for constituency work at the Department's headquarters building. However, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of utility and ICT costs as such costs are not broken down by unit in my Department's records. However, the space involved is minimal and associated costs negligible as the overall building must be maintained and fitted out in a manner appropriate for all staff working at the Department.