Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2012
1161. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a breakdown of the costs of office holder car transport over the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37156/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra1162. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total cost of office holder car transport in 2010; the same figures for car transport cost for Ministers of State; the total cost of car transport including ministerial and office holder transport since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37157/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1161 and 1162 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Government introduced a number of changes for the provision of Office Holder transport during 2011. One of the consequences of that decision was that the transport arrangements in place for Ministers of State became applicable to Government Ministers, subject to very limited exceptions on security grounds. In addition, it was decided that former Presidents and Taoisigh would only be supplied with official transport for important State occasions. The revised transport arrangements came into operation for Government Ministers on 1st May 2011 and for former Office Holders on 16th June 2011.
The Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote. In that context, I am informed by the Garda authorities that expenditure on Office Holder transport for the periods referred to was as outlined in the following table.
|
Period |
Expenditure |
|
2010 |
€7,502,896 |
|
01/03/11-31/7/12 |
€4,831,057 |
|
01/08/11-31/07/12 |
€2,288,777 |
Costs arising during the period 01/03/11 - 31/07/12 included costs associated with the service prior to and after the new transport arrangements had been fully introduced.
The Garda authorities do not have details of Ministerial transport costs which are not charged to the Garda Vote.
