asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce 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.
18.
Limerick East): The information sought by the Deputy in respect of the Ministers of State at my Department for the year 1985 is as follows:—
|
Minister of State |
Number of Drivers |
Total Cost of Driver Salaries (includes Employer's PRSI) |
Total Cost of Driver Expenses |
Ministers of State Mileage Allowance |
|
Mr. M. Moynihan T.D. |
2 |
£21,748 |
£2,965 |
£9,482 |
|
Mr. E. Collins T.D. |
2 |
£10,897 |
£2,264 |
£6,455 |
If Ministers of State had been provided with official cars and Garda drivers in 1985, the estimated cost would have been on average £84,000 per user.
In the case of Minister of State Collins, my Department shares his costs with another Department. If he had been provided with an official car and Garda drivers in 1985, the total estimated cost to my Department for that year would have been £42,000.
My Department has therefore saved an estimated £50,000 in the case of Minister of State Moynihan and £22,000 in the case of Minister of State Collins on the basis of what it would have cost to provide official cars and Garda drivers.