441 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide details of any foreign trips made by him in the year 2010 and to date in 2011; the purpose of each trip; the costs associated with each trip broken down by air travel, ground transportation, hotel accommodation and entertaining expenses; if air travel was by way of commercial airline or Government jet; the exact mode of ground transportation used; the name of each hotel and the nature of the entertainment for which the expenses were incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2673/11]

444 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide details of hotel accommodation used by him within the State while on ministerial duties in the years 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011; the name of each hotel in which he stayed; the costs associated with each stay and the purpose of each trip; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2718/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 441 and 444 together.

In relation to entertainment expenses, Minister Killeen hosted a dinner in Sarajevo on the 27th September 2010 for 11 officials at a cost of €349.05. It is not possible to isolate the costs associated with ground transportation on the above trips as transport was provided by officials and the Military as detailed above. The former Minister of Defence, Willie O'Dea, T.D., did not embark on any foreign trips in 2010.

The Ministerial Air Transport Service was availed of for all foreign travel during the period in question. Details of foreign trips using the Ministerial Air Transport Service in 2010 and to date in 2011 are set out in the tabular statement below.

With regard to the costs associated with the use of the Ministerial Air Transport Service, this Department follows the normal practice in the aviation business of costing aircraft by reference to the cost per flying hour under either of two headings:

(a) The direct cost, i.e. the costs which are additional to those associated with having the aircraft and which only arise when the aircraft is flown including maintenance, fuel and support services; and

(b) The total cost, i.e. the direct cost plus the costs associated with having the aircraft, i.e. depreciation and personnel costs

The costs associated with the dedicated MATS aircraft are as follows:

The information requested in relation to domestic trips made by me in the years 2010 and to date in 2011 are set out in the table below.

The former Minister of Defence, Willie O'Dea, T.D., did not avail of hotel accommodation while on domestic Ministerial duties in 2009 or 2010.

442 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide details of any foreign trips made by officials in his Department in the years 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011; the purpose of each trip; the costs associated with each trip broken down by air travel, ground transportation, hotel accommodation and entertaining expenses; if air travel was by way of commercial airline or Government jet; the mode of ground transportation used; the name of each hotel; the nature of the entertainment for which expenses were incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2688/11]

445 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide details of any foreign trips made by officials in public bodies under the remit of his Department in the years 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011, the purpose of each trip; the costs associated with each trip broken down by air travel, ground transportation, hotel accommodation and entertaining expenses; if air travel was by way of commercial airline or Government jet; the mode of ground transportation used; the name of each hotel; the nature of entertainment for which expenses were incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2733/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 442 and 445 together.

It has not been possible in the time available to compile the information requested by the Deputy. The information will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

443 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Defence the occasions on which the Government jet was used to travel within the State in 2010 and to date in 2011; the purpose of each trip and the costs associated with each trip; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2703/11]

The dedicated Ministerial Air Transport Service aircraft, i.e. the Gulfstream IV & Learjet 45, have not been availed of by any Minister for travel within the State in 2010 or to date in 2011.