Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will detail, in tabular form, the total photography costs for his Department since coming to office inclusive of costs incurred from use of the Ministerial allowance; the occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographers was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37367/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I assume that the Deputy is referring to costs arising where photographers were engaged by my Department to cover Ministerial or Departmental events.

The table below lists the occasions on which photographers were booked for such events for the period since the establishment of my Department in June 2011 to date, the photographers or photographic companies engaged, and the actual or estimated cost associated with each specific occasion. The total cost amounts to €5,617.42. This includes costs both for the booking of photographers and some general ancillary costs, such as postage, etc, where relevant.

TABLE: Cost incurred by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to the engagement of photographers to cover Ministerial/Departmental events from June 2011 to date

* Part of a package of two events for the price of one

The hiring of photographers for Ministerial or Departmental events is dependent on a number of factors. These include the nature of the engagement, the expected level of media interest and the national/regional scope of the subject. At all times, value for money is a critical consideration in the context of the booking of photographers.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will detail in tabular form, the total cost of providing entertainment for his Department since coming to office inclusive of costs incurred from use of the Ministerial allowance; the occasions for which entertainment was provided; the entertainers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion; if there is a policy regarding the booking of entertainers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37439/12]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount spent on food and drink by his Department; if he will provide a breakdown of what this involved; the occasions on which food and drink was provided; those present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37455/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 913 and 914 together.

My Department's policy is to restrict spending on entertainment to essential expenditure only. Staff have been instructed that the strictest economy should be observed at all times in relation to entertainment and the limits as set out in Finance Circular 25/2000 must be strictly adhered to.

I am advised that since my Department was established on 2 June 2011 expenditure of €41,790.83 was incurred in providing food and drink at official receptions or launches, working lunches and international events hosted by Ireland. The provision of teas/coffees at meetings has not been included.

A breakdown of this amount is set out in the table below. Given the extensive amount of information to be examined, it has not been possible to provide the comprehensive details sought by the Deputy within the time constraints involved.

In addition, expenditure of €4,703.53 was incurred last year by Culture Ireland – which has responsibility for the promotion of Irish arts and artists abroad - including events in the United States in the context of the Imagine Ireland programme and at the Edinburgh Festival.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount spent on hair and make-up by his Department since he came to office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37471/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht was established on 2 June 2011, following substantial Departmental reconfigurations. I am advised that, since that date, there is no record of any payment by my Department for the purposes referred to by the Deputy.