Departmental Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2011

Tuesday, 25 October 2011

Questions (620)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

640 Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will communicate with the Department of Social Protection as to the cost to the Exchequer of social welfare assistance required for former employees of a company (details supplied) in County Donegal; if he will ask for a report from the Department of Social Protection to enable him to make an assessment on the net cost if any to the State of providing financial assistance to the operations of the ferry in order to keep its employees in employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31273/11]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar)

The cost to the Exchequer of social welfare assistance paid to former employees of this private commercial ferry company is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection and my Department has no role in relation to this matter.

As I previously advised the Deputy on 13th October 2011, it is not the practice of my Department to subsidise loss-making ferry services nor are there any funds available to my Department for this purpose.