THE Taoiseach's department squandered over €1,500 this summer on hotel rooms that were never used, it has been revealed.

The suite of seven rooms in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Brussels was reserved for a meeting of the European Council on 17 June. However, the delegation did not require accommodation in the end and attempts to reverse the booking were made too late. A bill for €1,519 arrived at the end of September and was paid for in "cancellation" fees, the Department of the Taoiseach said.

Brian Cowen and his delegation flew to Brussels on the morning of 17 June and returned that evening on the government jet, running up an aircraft bill of €23,670.

Over €12,000 was paid on overseas travel last month, according to a list of costs from the department. The most sizable chunk was the €5,772 limousine bill for the Taoiseach on his visit to New York and Atlanta.