Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 144: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide details of any foreign trips made by her in the year 2010 and to date in 2011; the purpose of each trip; the costs associated with each trip broken down by air travel, ground transportation, hotel accommodation and entertaining expenses; if air travel was by way of commercial airline or Government jet; the exact mode of ground transportation used; the name of each hotel and the nature of the entertainment for which the expenses were incurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2674/11]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The only official overseas visit undertaken by me as Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills in 2010 and to date in 2011 was the Education Trade Mission to the United States in September 2010. This mission was organised and arranged by Enterprise Ireland and its primary purpose was to promote Ireland as a destination for full-time study by US students. With the exception of the cost of the gifts given during the visit, the costs of Ministerial participation were met by Enterprise Ireland, in accordance with that agency's policy for Ministerial-led trade missions. A total of 15 gifts were given during the visit at a cost of €745.41.

145. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide details of any foreign trips made by officials in her Department in the years 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011; the purpose of each trip; the costs associated with each trip broken down by air travel, ground transportation, hotel accommodation and entertaining expenses; if air travel was by way of commercial airline or Government jet; the mode of ground transportation used; the name of each hotel; the nature of the entertainment for which expenses were incurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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A total of 411 trips were undertaken by officials in my Department in the years 2009 and 2010. No costs, as yet, have been incurred for 2011. It would not be administratively feasible to extract and provide the level of detail sought in respect of each of these trips. However, it is possible to provide aggregate information for travel by officials during this period, and if the Deputy is interested in any specific official trips, arrangements can be made to provide the full level of detail sought. Expenditure on air travel during the period amounted to €110,004. Expenditure on ground transportation totalled €5,287. Expenditure on accommodation totalled €75, 173. Official entertainment is only undertaken where it is considered absolutely necessary and is undertaken very rarely in the course of Foreign Travel. Expenditure is governed by the provisions of the Department of Finance circular on official entertainment and officials in my Department are required to ensure the strictest economy in its expenditure. Separate figures are not maintained for official entertainment carried out while travelling.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide details of hotel accommodation used by her within the State while on ministerial duties in the years 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011; the name of each hotel in which she stayed; the costs associated with each stay and the purpose of each trip; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2719/11]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested is being compiled at present and will be forwarded to the Deputy shortly.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 147: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide details of any foreign trips made by officials in public bodies under the remit of her Department in the years 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011, the purpose of each trip; the costs associated with each trip broken down by air travel, ground transportation, hotel accommodation and entertaining expenses; if air travel was by way of commercial airline or Government jet; the mode of ground transportation used; the name of each hotel; the nature of entertainment for which expenses were incurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2734/11]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Travel by public bodies under the remit of my Department is an operational matter for the individual bodies themselves and the information is not collated centrally. It is the responsibility of all bodies operating under the aegis of my Department to ensure full compliance with the Department of Finance Foreign Travel Guidelines, published in 2009. The Guidelines have been brought to the attention of these bodies by my Department.

In line with the revised code of practice for the Governance of State Bodies published in 2009, the Chairperson of each body, must on, an annual basis, a) affirm that all appropriate procedures for financial reporting, internal audit, travel, procurement and asset disposal are being carried out and b) certify that Government Travel Requirements are being complied with in all respects. The relevant line sections in my Department actively liaise with those bodies operating under my Department, who are required to provide the relevant documentation relating to corporate governance as outlined in the revised code. In the circumstances, my Department does not hold details of the information sought.