asked the Minister for Justice if he will state separately, for each of the financial years ended 31st March, 1949, and 31st March, 1950, in respect of each Minister of State and Parliamentary Secretary whether any motor car the property of the State has been allocated to him, and, if so, the number of miles travelled by the car or cars so allotted, the quantity and value of the petrol and oil used in them, the number of members of the Garda Síochána who are employed as drivers of the cars, the amount spent on the cars for tyres and repairs, washing and general maintenance, and the amounts, if any, refunded to the Exchequer by the Minister or Parliamentary Secretary concerned in respect of the user on private business of any car or cars allocated to him.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ministers' and Parliamentary Secretaries' Cars.
In accordance with an arrangement that was in force when the present Government took office and for many years before a police car with two drivers is allocated to each Minister and Parliamentary Secretary. The cars are supplied on the basis that the person to whom the car is allocated is entitled to use it as if it were his private property and accordingly the question of reimbursing the Exchequer in respect of the private user of the cars does not arise. I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to give the statistical information asked for, in so far as it is readily available, in the form of a separate statement to be published in the Official Report.
STATEMENT.
(1) MILEAGE.
|
Person using car |
1948/49 |
1949/50 |
|
miles |
miles |
|
|
An Taoiseach |
25,548 |
20,738 |
|
Tánaiste |
26,311 |
45,875 |
|
Minister for Finance |
16,157 |
19,926 |
|
Minister for Justice |
40,183 |
44,601 |
|
*Minister for Agriculture |
31,506 |
51,507 |
|
Minister for Education |
37,768 |
35,360 |
|
Minister for Defence |
24,275 |
21,035 |
|
Minister for Lands |
35,795 |
38,304 |
|
Minister for Health |
31,814 |
28,723 |
|
Minister for Local Government |
41,098 |
39,246 |
|
Minister for External Affairs |
18,408 |
18,710 |
|
Minister for Industry and Commerce |
23,989 |
39,231 |
|
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs |
49,103 |
52,598 |
|
Parliamentary Secretary to Minister for Finance |
37,156 |
39,785 |
|
Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach and to the Minister for Industry and Commerce |
28,611 |
30,011 |
|
Parliamentary Secretary to Minister for Local Government and to the Minister for Defence |
21,651 |
37,188 |
* (A car was not allocated to the Minister for Agriculture until 18th July, 1949. Up to that date the Minister did most of his travelling in his own car which was provided with petrol and oil and serviced and driven by the Garda Síochána. The mileage shown includes 30,818 miles in 1948/49 and 6,844 miles in 1949/50 travelled in the Minister's own car.)
(2) PETROL AND OIL.
The total quantity of the petrol and oil used by all the cars and the value thereof was:—
|
1948/49 |
1949/50 |
|||
|
Quantities |
Value |
Quantities |
Value |
|
|
Petrol |
34,445 gls. |
£3,972 |
41,496 gls. |
£4,588 |
|
Oil |
588 gls. |
749 gls. |
(3) MAINTENANCE.
Other maintenance charges including tyres, replacement of parts, washing, etc., and the estimated expenditure on the pay and allowances of maintenance staff amounted to:—
|
1948/49 |
1949/50 |
|
£5,581 |
£6,072 |