The Taoiseach’s Department has spent €30,629 on photography since the Government’s formation almost a year ago.
Enda Kenny told Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin the figure for the year compared with €83,298 in 2008. The Taoiseach did not say what photographic costs for 2009 and 2010 were.
Mr Kenny said during Taoiseach’s questions that the Government was making efficiencies and that increasingly departmental staff took photos to reduce costs.
He said a photographic agency was contracted for major events and "inward State visits". This included the visit of US president Barack Obama last year.
Mr Kenny said the photographic costs of the visit of Queen Elizabeth were covered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The Taoiseach listed the monthly spend as:
March 2011 - €2,559
April 2011 - nil;
May 2011- €160;
June 2011 - €14,051;
July 2011 - €7,090
August 2011- €1,015
September 2011 - €683
October 2011- nil
November 2011- €561
December 2011- €4,510
January 2012 - nil
Mr Kenny told the Fianna Fáil leader: “You have all the pictures there you want.”
Mr Martin said: “You looked resplendent in all those photographs. Compliments to the photographer.”
He added: “The answer stands for itself.”