Written answers
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
Department of An Taoiseach
Departmental Expenditure
9:00 pm
Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)
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Question 99: To ask the Taoiseach the details of spending, using Departmental credit cards held by Department staff over the past four years; the numbers of persons in his Department who hold credit cards; the credit limits of said cards; and the amount that was specifically spent by his Department on entertainment provided using said credit card. [23319/11]
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The following table details the total spend on Departmental credit cards over the past four years, and the amount that relates to entertainment expenditure:
Year | Total Spend | Total Spend on Entertainment | No of Cards |
2008 | €79,410.24 | €22,460.89 | 29 |
2009 | €28,809.55 | €7,328.97 | 25 |
2010 | €15,351.14 | €2,982.48 | 19 |
2011 (Jan - Aug) | €15,549.12 | €2,370.98 | 8 |
There are eight Departmental credit cards in operation at present, two of which have a credit limit of €4,000 and the remaining six have a limit of €2,500.00. The cards are held by the following officials:
Head of Information Technology Unit
Head of Library Services/Archives Private Secretary to the Taoiseach
Private Secretary to Government Chief Whip
Private Secretary to the Minister of State for European Affairs
Assistant Secretary, European and International Affairs
Head of Management Services Unit
Finance Officer
Departmental credit cards are used for official purposes only. They are allocated to officials where the facility will be of practical use in meeting the requirements of official business, for example, to facilitate meeting of travel expenses and official entertainment while away from the office, the procurement of goods and services such as on-line conference bookings, air travel, purchase of IT equipment and library supplies.
The use of official credit cards is closely monitored by the Department's Finance Unit. Expenditure must generally be supported by receipts submitted by card holders each month as part of the approval process for the associated expenditure. The allocation and use of official credit cards are reviewed on an ongoing basis, with a view to minimising the number of cards allocated, and credit limits are assigned in line with requirements for official use on a case by case basis.
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