Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2024
289. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education to provide a schedule of the number of civilian drivers and Garda drivers attached to her and to Ministers of State of her Department; to provide the official work pattern for each driver and the total annual hours worked by each driver; and to indicate the number of drivers assigned to each Minister and Minister of State. [4216/24]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that I have the services of Garda drivers to assist me in carrying out my ministerial duties; the assignment of their working hours is a matter for An Garda Síochána to manage.In accordance with the terms of the Guidelines for Ministerial Appointments for the 33rd Dáil, Josepha Madigan T.D. Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion at my Department has two civilian drivers who are employed by this Department.Thomas Byrne T.D., Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education in my Department and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media also has two civilian drivers who are employed by that Department.The hours of attendance of the civilian drivers amount to on average, not less than 41 hours and 15 minutes gross per week. The working pattern is seven days on and seven days off on a week-on week-off basis. In line with the Ethics Acts, copies of the contracts of employment of civilian drivers are laid before the Oireachtas and can be viewed by the Deputy.
