asked the Taoiseach if he will state in respect of each Minister of State in his Department, for the last year for which figures are available; the number of civilian drivers employed; the total cost of salaries paid to the drivers; the total cost of expenses paid to the drivers; and the total mileage allowance paid to the Ministers of State in respect of the use of their own car.
Written Answers. - Ministerial Travelling Expenses.
10.
During 1985 two posts of civilian driver were attached to the Office of Deputy Ted Nealon, Minister of State for Arts and Culture at a total salary cost of £20,543.18. Expenses amounting to £5,515.05 were paid to drivers, and the mileage allowance paid to the Minister of State during this period amounted to £16,730.95 in respect of his car.
Minister of State, Deputy Seán Barrett had the use of a State car in his capacity as Government Chief Whip and the Minister of State for Women's Affairs, Deputy Nuala Fennell, used her own car, rather than employing drivers, and received mileage allowances of £4,626 during 1985. Occasionally, Deputy Fennell, availed of the use of a State car for official purposes and the estimated cost of this in 1985 was £2,500.
If Ministers of State had been provided with official cars and Garda drivers the estimated cost in 1985 would have been on average £84,000 per user. The operation of the alternative scheme in my Department whereby Ministers of State use their own cars and employ civilian drivers has resulted in savings of £118,084.82 for 1985. The overall savings accruing from the operaition of the alternative scheme in 1985 for all Departments is £550,500.