Departmental Staff Expenses

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2015

Tuesday, 16 June 2015

Questions (728)

Barry Cowen

Question:

728. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, the total amount spent in each of the years 2011 to 2014 and in 2015 to date on staff subsistence payments and staff 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 the Revenue Commissioners concerns over practices in other State bodies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23679/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Travel and subsistence payments made to Department staff are subject to regular internal and external review and audit. Travel and subsistence payments formed part of an audit of the Department by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners. Issues arising from audit and review, including Revenue Commissioner audits, have been taken into account by my Department when reviewing its travel and subsistence guidelines for staff of the Department.

Year		Total Domestic and Foreign Subsistence & Hotel Costs		Total Taxis (inclusive of Domestic & Foreign related taxi expenditure)		Total
		€		€		€
2015 (to date)		287,934.98		8,225.49		296,160.47
2014		685,511.59		19,351.50		704,863.09
2013		704,828.75		21,168.59		725,997.34
2012		734,780.92		26,179.10		760,960.02
2011		709,993.01		39,706.69		749,699.70

Please Note: Expenditure figures shown above are in respect of all staff in the Department of Education & Skills, including Ministerial posts and field officers in the Inspectorate and the National Educational Psychologist Service (NEPS). In addition, the expenditure figures are in respect of payments made within each year as shown, which may also include payments relating to a previous year.