The North / South Language Body Annual Report & Accounts 2009

7. OTHER OPERATING COSTS2009 2009 2008 2008€ STG£ € STG£Programme CostsInternal Programmes & Activities 889,538 792,490 641,599 510,906Communications & Sponsorship 455,904 406,166 569,379 453,397Irish in the Business Community 130,102 115,907 161,720 128,777Dictionary Project 843,762 751,708 825,735 657,533Early Education Scheme 557,500 496,677 600,391 478,092Website 108,951 97,064 94,627 75,3512,985,757 2,660,012 2,893,451 2,304,056Administration ExpensesTravel, Subsistence & Hospitality (1) 175,784 156,607 211,372 168,316Office, Printing & Stationery 139,107 123,930 130,383 103,824Consultancy 60,511 53,909 102,975 82,000Legal & Professional Services (2) 161,945 144,276 75,443 60,075Outsourcing 165,451 147,400 258,466 205,817Translation - - - -Audit 17,800 15,858 24,300 19,351Telecommunications & Postage 126,701 112,878 111,132 88,494Training & Staff Development 43,416 38,679 49,480 39,401Recruitment 33,075 29,467 15,098 12,022Administration Expenses of the PensionScheme 62,934 56,068 13,081 10,416Distribution 3,085 2,748 5,992 4,771Subscriptions 14,827 13,209 10,159 8,0901,004,636 895,029 1,007,881 802,577Establishment ExpensesRent & Rates 502,583 447,751 453,630 361,226Repairs & Renewals 50,362 44,868 57,777 46,008Lifts in the Headquarters 284 253 - -Light & Heat 56,527 50,360 45,074 35,892Insurance 40,255 35,863 43,964 35,009Cleaning & Canteen 54,894 48,905 55,284 44,023704,905 628,000 655,729 522,158Financial ChargesBank interest and charges 6.309 5,621 4,855 3,866Other Pension Financial Costs 647,000 576,412 612,000 487,336Foreign Exchange Loss 160,193 142,716 (160,374) (127,706)813,502 724,749 (155,519) (123,840)Total 5,508,800 4,907,790 5,013,542 3,992,287(1) Foreign Travel amounted to €9,926 (STG£8,843) in 2009(2) In 2009, the Board procured the services of two firms of solicitors to investigate and report on Foras na Gaeilge's compliance with its statutorypension requirements, including the failure, in a timely manner, to deduct and pay over employee contributions, and to disclose or furnishinformation required under statute or by the pension administrators.The first firm was engaged to give general legal advice to the Board on the conduct of the review and related matters and a second firm was engagedto carry out the review. The Board procured the services of both firms without open procurement. A total of €210,753 in legal costs was incurred inrespect of these services in 2009 and 2010. Arising from the report's findings, the failures in compliance were addressed and steps were taken toensure compliance by Foras with its pension obligations in the future.22