Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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302. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, broken down by year, the total photography costs for his Department since coming into office, inclusive of costs incurred from the use of the Ministerial Allowance; if he will provide the list of 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 his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23425/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that the engagement of service providers by my Department operates within the parameters of value for money; where possible, every effort is made to minimise costs.  In line with stated Government policy, all public bodies must use a competitive process for the purchase of any goods and services, whatever the value.  The following table sets out the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's photography costs for 2011: