Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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500. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, the total photography costs for her 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 photographer was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49139/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Since my appointment, no photographers have been booked or costs incurred for Ministerial events by the Department or through the Ministerial Allowance. For the Deputy's information, a sum of approximately €7,400 was paid in July 2014 by my Department for the restoration, framing and installation of photographs in order to establish a photo gallery of Ministers and Secretaries General who have served in the Department. 2014 marks the 90th anniversary of the Department in its modern form since the establishment of the Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924. The project has been in train for some time. My Department adheres to appropriate procurement guidelines when procuring the use of photography services.