Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 February 2012
282 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has examined the costs involved in operating the new system of payments to Ministers’ drivers and use of cars; if he will outline the savings achieved to date by each Minister; if he is considering further changes to the administration of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11463/12]
View answerSince 1 May 2011 Cabinet Ministers with the exception of Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Law Reform now use their own cars. All Ministers are now paid for official mileage up to 96,540 kilometres or 60,000 miles per annum. Ministers of State have used their own cars on official business since 1984. My Department does not maintain records of the travel costs for each Minister, However, at the time the change was made last year it was estimated that the annual savings from Cabinet Ministers using their own cars rather than using State ones would be of the order of €4 million.
