Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 48: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the total costs to the State of the visits of Queen Elizabeth II and the President of the USA. [19973/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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As I am sure the Deputy can appreciate I am not in a position to answer his question with regard to the total costs to the State of the visits but I will answer with regard to costs accruing to my own Department. In this regard, I would refer the Deputy to my written replies to his questions of 16 June and 5 July on this matter. I am aware that the Deputy has put this question to the Taoiseach and that Minister for Defence has also addressed this issue in the House.

The updated costs accruing to my Department from the State visit of Queen Elizabeth II is €231,702.15 and the visit by President Obama is €63,302.16. These costs relate to expenditure on transport, car hire, overnight accommodation and subsistence costs for staff, official entertainment and catering, I.T. and administrative costs as well as overtime payments to some staff working on the visits. There still remains some further expenditure to cover residual costs which have not yet been finalised; this will not add significantly to the costs outlined.