Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 January 2015
168. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Taoiseach the amount spent by his Department on ministerial drivers and associated travel expenses for each of the past four years; the way this compares with similar expenditure for the four years from 2007 to 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2529/15]
View answerThe total expenditure on Ministerial transport by my Department from 2011 to 16th January 2015 was €68,959.74. This relates to Government Chief Whip and Minister of State Paul Kehoe.
Prior to March 2011, the Government Chief Whip was supplied with a State car and two Garda drivers. This facility was removed in 2011.
My Department does not maintain records of the travel costs for each Minister. However, at the time the change was made in March 2011 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.
