Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 November 2014
78. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Defence the ministerial transport costs for the years 2010 to 2013, inclusive, for each Minister and Minister of State in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44887/14]
View answerIn 2010, all Government Ministers were provided with a State car that was driven by a member of An Garda Síochána from a pool of Gardaí, two of whom were assigned to the Minister at that time. The cost of this service was funded from the Vote of An Garda Síochána.
In March 2011 the Government brought in new arrangements in respect of ministerial transport. Under the new arrangements, Ministers could appoint two civilian drivers to drive the Minister’s car and claim mileage in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines.
As part of the new arrangements the Government agreed that the Minister for Justice and Equality should retain a State car and Garda drivers. As my predecessor was Minister for Justice and Equality and Minister for Defence this arrangement applied to him and all costs associated with his transportation were met from the Vote of An Garda Síochána. All of my transport costs have been borne by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine since my appointment as Minister for Defence.
The Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Defence, Paul Kehoe T.D., is assigned two civilian drivers who were appointed in May 2011. The costs associated with the drivers since May 2011 is set out below.
|
Year |
No. of drivers |
Total Costs € |
|
2010 |
Nil |
Nil |
|
2011 |
2 |
60,217 |
|
2012 |
2 |
104,041 |
|
2013 |
2 |
101,739 |
Any mileage and car related expenses paid to Minister of State Kehoe are matters for the Department of the Taoiseach.
