Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 Jun 1996

Vol. 466 No. 6

Written Answers. - FCA Car Allowance.

Michael Smith

Ceist:

163 Mr. M. Smith asked the Minister for Defence the maximum annual and monthly allowance payable under the PO car allowance to an FCA officer for a vehicle of 1600 ccs; and the number of officers who were paid the maximum in the Southern Command in 1995. [12036/96]

Minister for Defence (Mr. Barrett)

Defence Force Regulations provide for the payment, subject to certain conditions, of a mileage allowance to officers of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil in respect of the use of privately owned motor cars in the performance of their duties. The regulations provide for the payment of an allowance for up to a maximum of 500 miles per month at the following rates for a vehicle with engine capacity of 1388 c.c. and over:—

Mileage in a Mileage Year	Rate per Mile
Up to 2,000	66.50 pence
2,001 to 4,000	72.50 pence
4,001 to 6,000	38.04 pence
6,001 to 8,000	35.69 pence
8,001 to 12,000	30.98 pence
12,001 and upwards	26.27 pence

The regulations also provide that where an Army vehicle which has been allotted to a unit or sub-unit is expected to be immobilised for a continuous period of not less than 21 days, authorisation may be granted for the use of not more than two privately owned motor cars in the performance of duties of the unit or sub-unit, in respect of the period during which the Army vehicle is immobilised, subject to an overriding combined maximum mileage for the privately owned car or cars and the Army vehicle of 1,500 miles in any one month. The rate payable in these circumstances is 24.96 pence per mile in respect of each mile in excess of 500 miles for a vehicle with engine capacity of 1388 c.c. and over. One officer in the Southern Command was paid an allowance in respect of mileage in excess of 6,000 miles in 1995.