Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 3

Written Answers. - Official Travel.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

98 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Finance the number of occasions on which officials of his Department have used airlines other than Aer Lingus for official travel in circumstances where Aer Lingus flights are available on the same route; the estimated loss to the Exchequer from using privately owned airlines rather than the airline of which he is the sole shareholder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10211/99]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

While the precise number of journeys undertaken on airlines other than Aer Lingus on routes served by Aer Lingus by officials of my Department is not available to me, the following is an approximation of the expenditure by my Department on different airlines in 1998.

Airline	ExpenditureIR£
Aer Lingus	198,749.40
Sabena	19,650.60
Ryanair	1,521.70
Tyrolean Airlines	2,290.20
Finnair	252.60
Air France	1,420.80
British Midland	938.80
SAS	540.90
Cityjet	1,027.70
Other*	5,466.20

*The Other category includes a number of journeys which involved travel on more than one carrier and where it is not possible to attribute the cost to any one carrier.

As the Deputy may be aware, all Government Departments-offices engaged in a tender process which resulted in the appointment of a travel agent to procure air transport and related services for officers travelling on official business. The agent and the staff of my Department are aware that the overall guiding principle for foreign travel is value for money, consistent with the requirements of official business. My Department has finalised its foreign travel policy which emphasises the need to achieve value for money in respect of each official trip undertaken. In determining which travel option offers best value for money, the staff of my Department have been advised that they must be prepared to use the services of all carriers operating out of Ireland where the carrier meets the reasonable requirements of the staff and the Department. Neither my Department nor the appointed agent will enter into any exclusive arrangement with any one carrier.

My Department will also be conducting ex-post value for money assessments of the routes most regularly used by officials of my Department. In addition my Department is in the process of engaging consultants who will undertake value for money audits of Government Departments- offices and the appointed agent. These external audits will be made available to the Comptroller and Auditor General.

I am satisfied that the measures taken will result in greater efficiencies in the management of foreign travel by Government Departments / Offices and that greater value for money will be achieved.