Departmental Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 September 2011

Wednesday, 14 September 2011

Ceisteanna (163, 164)

Shane Ross

Ceist:

161 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of money that was spent on taxis by his Department in the past year; the amount that has been provided for in the next year for taxi services for his Department; the times at which taxis can be used by staff members; the terms under which staff members can use taxis; the amount that was used by staff members; the amount that was used by outsiders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22721/11]

Shane Ross

Ceist:

183 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount his Department has spent on taxis for staff and for others in each of the past four years. [23296/11]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 183 together.

The following table shows the total cost of taxi hire met by my Department in the past four years (2007- 2010).

Year	€
2007	71,999.07
2008	71,762.02
2009	50,777.69
2010	43,055.91

Taxis used by my Department's officials are strictly for business purposes and staff members are required to ensure that every effort is made to minimise the use of taxis. The costs of taxi hire as indicated above are met through departmental accounts with taxi hire firms in Dublin and through reimbursements of vouched domestic and foreign travel claims from staff travelling on official business. Taxi hire for official travel is only permitted where: the number of officers travelling make taxi hire cheaper than other forms of public transport; no suitable public transport alternative is available or; using other forms of public transport is not possible/practical. Receipts must be furnished for all official travel, including taxi hire, undertaken by staff.

While it is not possible to accurately predict the potential future costs of taxi hire for official purposes, it is not anticipated that the expenditure for 2011 will exceed expenditure for the previous year. My Department regularly monitors the costs of taxi hire for official business purposes, whether on account or arising from personal hire for which a refund is subsequently claimed. My Department does not meet the cost of taxi hire by individuals or staff of external agencies or bodies visiting my Department.