Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 March 2013
588. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the cost of drivers of each vehicle assigned to him and Ministers of State in his Department since March 2011; the mileage and other costs claimed in respect of each since March 2011; the overall yearly costs of ministerial cars in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12460/13]
View answerThe Minister for Health and the Ministers of State are all required to use their own cars and the salary costs for drivers and mileage expenses since March 2011 are broken down as follows:
|
Minister |
Driver pay & Subsistence |
Mileage & Other Costs |
|
James Reilly, T.D. |
€186,268 |
€27,861 |
|
Roisin Shorthall T.D. |
Did not have driver |
€8,149 (includes taxis) |
|
Kathleen Lynch T.D. |
€169,081 |
€28,977 |
|
Alex White T.D. |
€27,321 |
€3,339 |
|
TOTAL |
€382,670 |
€68,326 |
In addition a total sum of €6805 was paid in respect of tolls for all Ministers.
My Department was not responsible for paying the cost of Garda drivers and State Cars etc. under previous arrangements in place in 2010. However, on 25th April 2012 my colleague, Mr Noonan, T.D., Minister for Finance, in response to a Parliamentary Question, indicated that the average cost of transport for Ministers under that previous arrangement was €280,000 per annum per Minister. This appears to be significantly more expensive than current arrangements.
