My Department paid €1,911,624 in respect of mileage expenses in 2003. A further amount of €94,720 was expended on bus, rail and related expenses, for example, taxi fares and car parking fees. A separate figure is not available for bus and rail expenses; systems are being put in place which will enable my Department to provide details of such expenditure from 2004.
My Department also operates a travel pass scheme for staff under which they purchase an annual bus or rail pass in a tax efficient manner approved by the Revenue Commissioners; some 244 staff avail of this.