Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 January 2022
667. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of civilian and Garda ministerial drivers in his current corps of drivers; the breakdown of the civilian versus Garda drivers; and the total costs including salaries, maintenance, fuel and so on incurred by the driver corps in 2020 and 2021. [3970/22]
View answerIn accordance with the Guidelines for Ministerial Appointments for the 33rd Dáil as published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform there were two civilian drivers employed by the Department in respect of the Minister for Health in 2020 and 2021. No Garda drivers were assigned to the Minister for Health during that period.
The salary for civilian drivers is €733.92 PPC per week since 1st October 2021. The drivers work on a week on/week off basis. The total costs excluding employer PRSI for the civilian drivers for the Minister for Health in 2020 was €36,748.06 and in 2021 was €85,094.13.
Costs associated with maintenance of the vehicle, fuel etc. are met by the registered owner, in this case the Minister for Health. The Minister for Health can claim travel expenses for official travel in his own vehicle at approved civil service rates.
In January 2022 two Garda drivers and a vehicle were assigned by an Garda Síochána to provide these services for the Minister and will replace the services of the civilian drivers.
