I propose to take Questions Nos. 956 and 984 together.
I refer to the reply to question No. 186 of 15 November 2007 in relation to public transport costs for myself and Ministers of State in my Department since I came into office. A breakdown of public transport costs for my predecessors and for Ministers of State since 1997 is not readily available and would take an inordinate amount of time and staff resources to compile.
The bulk of expenditure in relation to my transport is incurred by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform which provides me with a Ministerial car and driver. The need to hire transport does not generally arise, therefore, apart from when on official business abroad. In this regard such costs are incurred by the Department of Foreign Affairs in the first instance.