Providing mobile phones for the Taoiseach's two senior advisers has been more costly than expected because they were stolen and had to be replaced. A mobile and car phone for the Taoiseach's programme manager and adviser, Mr Sean Donlon, have cost £3,827, while a mobile phone for his economic adviser, Mr Gerry Boyle, has cost £1,736.

This was revealed by Mr Bruton in a written reply to Mr Dermot Ahern (FF, Louth). He said that the costs included the capital cost of replacing phones stolen.