Departmental Staff Expenses

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2014

Thursday, 18 December 2014

Questions (301)

Barry Cowen

Question:

301. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the total amount spent per annum in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014 on staff subsistence payments and taxi payments; if her Department has been audited for tax compliance on these payments and other benefits-in-kind; if these processes have been revised in view of Revenue Commissioners' concerns over practices in other State bodies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49329/14]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I can inform the Deputy that the total amount spent per annum in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014 in my Department on staff subsistence payments and staff taxi payments is as follows:

-	Subsistence	Taxi Costs
-	€	€
2011	427,581	46,501
2012	364,233	30,242
2013	437,169	34,514
2014	152,268	28,480

All travel and subsistence payments are in compliance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform circulars. All payments are approved by managers before the payments are processed. Expenditure levels are monitored on a regular basis by the financial management unit and audits are carried out to ensure that expenditure is in compliance with the circulars and has a business justification. It should be noted that in 2013 Ireland held the EU Presidency and officials in my Department were involved in chairing some 190 Council Working Party meetings as well as representing the Council in negotiations with the European Parliament which gave rise to increased travel and subsistence costs.