asked the Minister for the Environment the number of cars and other vehicles available to members of local authorities giving the types and makes where appropriate; if he will outline any subsidy, financial or otherwise, available from State funds towards the utilisation of cars in local authorities, and the number of people entitled to benefit from the facilities.
Written Answers. - Use of Cars by Local Authorities.
584.
Staff of local authorities who have to travel by car in the course of their official duties use their own vehicles and are recouped on an approved basis the costs involved in the official travel carried out. The only exceptions to this arrangement occur where the local authority consider that for obvious reasons of efficiency, etc., vehicles should be provided by the local authority, e.g., for transporting men and equipment and for certain technical grades involved in constant inspection duties. In such cases there is no provision for the private use of the vehicles by the personnel concerned. No State subsidy is provided towards the utilisation of cars in local authorities. These arrangements are matters for each local authority and no figures are available in the Department as to the types and makes of vehicles, etc.