253. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will outline and itemise all expenditure undertaken by his Department on private travel for him and-or for his private office, on legal fees, on consultancy fees and on hotel accommodation, during the 12-month period to 30 June 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30075/15]

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform does not pay for any private travel for me or my Private Office.

Turning to the specific question regarding hotel accommodation, the expenses for the period requested in respect of my Private Secretary, my Special Adviser and me:

- Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform: 11/09/14-12/09/14 - OECD Visit, Paris, €225.00; 23/02/15-24/02/15 - ERDF meeting and signing ceremony, Brussels , €149.28; 09/03/15-22/03/15 - Promote Ireland programme for St Patrick's Day, Japan/Rep of Korea, €1590.07.

- Private Secretary to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform: 1/09/14-12/09/14 - OECD Visit, Paris, €175.00; 23/02/15-24/02/15 - ERDF meeting and signing ceremony, Brussels, €149.28; 09/03/15-22/03/15 - Promote Ireland programme for St Patrick's Day, Japan/Rep of Korea, €1579.92; 07/06/15-09/06/15 - Informal meeting of Ministers responsible for Cohesion Policy, Riga, €280.00.

- Special Adviser to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform: 23/02/15-24/02/15 - ERDF meeting and signing ceremony, Brussels, €149.28.

For the Deputy's information, Ministerial Mileage from March 2011 to March 2015 is available on my Departments' website http://www.per.gov.ie

Information in respect of April 2015, May 2015, June 2015 will be published on the Departments' website shortly.

The following table outlines expenditure on legal fees from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015 in my Department.

Legal Fees from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015

The following table outlines expenditure on consultancy fees from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015 in my Department.

Consultancy Fees from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015

My Department ensures that every effort is made to limit the use of consultants where possible.  All contracts are negotiated with a view to achieving best value for money and are kept under review to ensure this is maintained.  When the use of consultants is unavoidable the staff in my Department ensure appropriate skills transfer to reduce the requirement for consultants going forward.

The OPW will respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.