Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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98. To ask the Taoiseach the expenses and entitlements of each former Taoiseach since the initiative was introduced in 2001 per annum, in tabular form; the computer and mobile telephone equipment made available to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5955/17]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Since March 2012, no administrative support has been made available by my Department to former Taoisigh.

Under the terms of an initiative introduced by the Department of Finance in August 2001, my Department paid the salary of secretarial assistants employed by former Taoisigh, up to the maximum of the Higher Executive Officer (standard) scale. The initiative provided that a former Taoiseach may employ two secretarial assistants for a period not exceeding five years from the date when he was last Taoiseach. After the five year period had elapsed only one secretarial assistant could be employed. The initiative also included provision for purchase of computer equipment necessary for this type of service.

While there are no guidelines in relation to the type of work for which secretarial assistants were employed by former Taoisigh, I understand that they carried out a normal range of secretarial duties to support the former Taoisigh in carrying out those aspects of work associated with their former roles which remain after their period in office has ceased. However, under the initiative the secretarial assistant could not engage in constituency or active party political work.

A table provides details of the costs incurred in providing secretarial assistants to former Taoisigh who had availed of the scheme prior to its abolition.

The details in relation to mobile phone expenses paid for by this Department from 2005 to 2011 are set out in the table below:

For 2003 and 2004, only the total annual cost of payments in respect of all former Taoisigh is available. Total costs in 2003 and 2004 were €2,567.70 and €9,507.29 respectively. No data is available prior to 2003 and no mobile phone expenses were paid to former Taoisigh in 2012.