Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the average amount paid for travel and subsistence on an annual basis; the details of the types of expenses staff may recoup; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22520/12]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the money spent on home and foreign travel. [22521/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 113 together.

An analysis of payments made in respect of travel and subsistence in my Department during 2011 shows an average payment of €461 per claimant for Foreign Travel and €1,718 per claimant for Domestic Travel. The payment of Travel and Subsistence by officers within my Department in connection with official business is made in accordance with Department of Finance Circular 11/82 and such expenses are paid only in respect of necessary absence from headquarters. Officers are required to ensure that subsistence and other expenses are kept to a minimum, including using public transport as a preferred method of travel and where meals are provided, including in-flight provision, deductions are made accordingly. Evidence of all expenses e.g. receipts, must also be submitted with each claim.

Travel and subsistence expenditure incurred during travel generally relate to subsistence, mileage, public transport, tolls/car parking fees. It can also include reimbursement in relation to visa and inoculation expenditure where required for foreign travel. The table provides a breakdown of expenditure during 2011 on domestic and foreign travel by category.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the type of events paid for under entertainment expenses. [22522/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I attach a breakdown outlining details of expenditure from my Department's administrative budget subhead A3.1 (Official Entertainment) in 2011.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a figure for the amount of money spent on uniforms and the type of uniforms bought by his Department. [22523/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The total expenditure on uniforms by my Department in 2011 was €4,174.27 This expenditure is in respect of uniforms (including a footwear allowance) for my Department's service officers.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there has been a 10% increase in the cost of postal and telecommunication services. [22524/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The overall allocation for postal and telecommunications services in my Department for 2012 is €2.64 million. This funding is provided in my Department's Administrative Budget, subhead A4. The 2012 allocation represents an increase of approximately 10% over actual expenditure in 2011. The reason for the increased provision in 2012 is twofold:

a) Some flexibility is required in relation to the cost of postal services due to the fact that the volume of materials posted to schools can fluctuate significantly from year to year.

b) The 2012 allocation also includes, for the first time, funding for the postal and telecommunications cost of a number of regional offices. Prior to 2012 the administrative costs of the regional offices in question were provided for in a separate subhead which has now been discontinued and the funding has been allocated instead to a number of other subheads including subhead A4.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 117: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there has been a 43% increase in office premises expenses; and the efforts being made to make offices more energy efficient. [22525/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The allocation for my Department's office premises expenses for 2012 is €2.34 million. The funding is provided in my Department's Administrative Budget, subhead A6. The 2012 allocation for subhead A6 represents an increase of approximately 43% over actual expenditure in 2011 (€1.635 million). The reasons for this level of provision in 2012 are as follows:

a) An allocation of some €0.4 million has been provided to allow essential building works to be carried out in my Department's premises in Athlone, Dublin and Tullamore.

b) Additional funding of some €0.138 million has been allocated to provide for the cost of security services in my Department's Marlborough Street premises. The additional funding for 2012 is required in order to provide for the cost of this service for a full year. Prior to June 2011 the Office of Public Works met the cost of security services in Marlborough St.

c) The 2012 allocation also includes some €0.171 million to meet the office premises expenses of a number of regional offices. Prior to 2012 the administrative costs of the regional offices in question were provided for in a separate subhead which has now been discontinued and the funding has been allocated instead to a number of other subheads including subhead A6.

Officals in my Department engage with the Office of Public Works an ongoing basis and in relation to energy efficiency matters.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the consultancy services and value for money reviews that have been paid for by his Department; and the way their findings have been implemented. [22526/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The information requested is being compiled at present and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.