Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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1059. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide in tabular form the total photography costs for her Department per annum in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; the costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance; a list of occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; a breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1445/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Total photography costs for my Department in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 were €1,054.62, €3,605.85, €3,943.38 and €4,015.78 respectively. No costs were incurred from use of the Ministerial allowance. The table below sets out the information requested by the Deputy.

The hiring of photographers for Ministerial or Departmental events is dependent on a number of factors, including 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.