Anne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 81: To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide a full breakdown, per year, of the expenses and entitlements of former Taoisigh since the initiative was introduced in 2001; if he will provide a breakdown for each former Taoiseach; the computer and mobile telephone equipment made available to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26897/11]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Under the terms of an initiative introduced by the Department of Finance in August 2001, my Department pays the salary of secretarial assistants employed by former Taoisigh, up to the maximum of the Higher Executive Officer (standard) scale. The initiative provides that a former Taoiseach may employ two secretarial assistants for a period not exceeding five years from the date when s/he was last Taoiseach. After the five year period has elapsed only one secretarial assistant may be employed. The initiative also includes provision for purchase of computer equipment necessary for this type of service.

While there are no guidelines in relation to the type of work for which secretarial assistants are employed by former Taoisigh, I understand that they carry out a normal range of secretarial duties to support the former Taoisigh in carrying out those aspects of work associated with their former roles which remain after their period in office has ceased. However, under the initiative the secretarial assistant cannot engage in constituency or active party political work.

The table beneath provides details of the costs incurred in providing secretarial assistants to former Taoisigh who have availed of the scheme since its introduction.

My Department also provided Dr. Garrett FitzGerald with the use of computer equipment to the value of €1,913 during this period and the cost of providing computer equipment to Mr. Brian Cowen was €1,440.

The details in relation to mobile phone expenses for former Taoisigh paid for by this Department for 2005 to date is set out in the table below:

Amounts paid in respect of each former Taoisigh, for previous years, are not available at this time. However, the total annual cost of payments in 2003 and 2004 in respect of all former Taoisigh were €2,567.70 and €9,507.29, respectively.