asked the Minister for the Environment 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.
29.
If Ministers of State had been given official cars and Garda drivers it is estimated that the cost in 1985 would have been, on average, £84,000 per user. The operation of the alternative scheme in my Department, whereby the Minister of State used his own car and employed civilian drivers has resulted in savings of £44,862 for 1985.