Departmental Staff Expenses

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 June 2014

Tuesday, 17 June 2014

Questions (401)

Niall Collins

Question:

401. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide, in tabular, form the total amount spent per annum from 2011 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014 on staff subsistence payments and staff taxi payments; if his Department has been audited for tax compliance on these payments and other benefits-in-kind; if these processes have been revised in view of concerns by the Revenue Commissioners over practices in other State bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25809/14]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

The total amount spent per annum in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014 on staff subsistence payments and on taxi payments where staff are engaged in official business is set out in the following table:

Payments	2011	2012	2013	2014 to date
Staff Subsistence Payments	528,823.93	570,528.62	522,597.55	173,181.80
Taxi Payments	18,868.07	17,502.61	11,489.54	5,623.88

All travel and subsistence payments were made in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidance on such matters and I am advised that no benefit in kind issues arise. My Department has not been audited for tax compliance on these payments and other benefits in kind. I understand, however, that such matters are kept under active review, in consultation with the Revenue Commissioners, as appropriate.