Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 282: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount that Seanad Éireann costs the Exchequer, that is the amount the State can expect to save if the Seanad were to be abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40998/11]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I am informed by the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission that the direct costs of the Seanad (Senators' pay and allowances, senators' staff pay, and pay of the Seanad Office officials) come to approximately 9.2 million euro in 2012. In addition to these costs, account has to be taken of the shared indirect costs of the Oireachtas which support the Seanad (such as broadcasting, printing, translation, utilities, the relevant portion of the Houses of the Oireachtas Service staff, administration costs, pensions, travel, etc). In total, both the direct and indirect costs of the Seanad are estimated by the Commission to amount to approximately 21 million euro in 2012.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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Question 283: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount being spent on the leasing of car parking for persons working in Leinster House; if he will provide a breakdown of the numbers involved; and the area of work in which they are involved [41023/11]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The Commissioners of Public Works have provided 254 parking spaces to the Houses of the Oireachtas, of these, 43 are leased at an annual cost, rounded, of €146,000. The allocation of these spaces to individuals working in any of the buildings occupied by the Oireachtas is a matter for the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission.