I attach below for the Deputy’s information details of transport costs in respect of the Ministers and Ministers of State appointed to my Department for the years 2010 - 2013. The costs detailed below cover the salary and related remuneration costs paid to Ministers’ Drivers (inclusive of Employers PRSI, Public Holiday Pay and Extra Attendance Payments) and the mileage and subsistence costs of Ministers and their drivers.
For the Deputy's information, my predecessor was provided with a Ministerial car and a Garda driver. The cost of the previous Ministerial transport scheme of Garda drivers and state cars were paid by the Department of Justice.
I would point out that it was estimated in 2011 that the saving to be achieved in not supplying State cars to Cabinet Ministers was of the order of €4m per annum. These estimates were based on the average cost of each State car including the cost of Garda drivers at €280,000 per annum. In the case of Ministers using their own cars, including the cost of 2 civilian drivers, it was calculated that the cost was in the region of €120,000 per annum per Minister. Following a review in 2012 it was found that the cost of the new system was lower than calculated and is in the order of an average of €100,000 per annum. This represents a saving of 65% on the previous transport system in place prior to May 2011 and supports the view that in value for money terms, the new transport arrangements are more cost effective than the previous system.
Mr Batt O’Keeffe
T.D. Minister for Enterprise Trade and Innovation
|
Drivers Salary and related remuneration Costs
|
Mileage and Subsistence
|
Total
|
2010
|
€0.00
|
€115.00
|
€115.00
|
2011
|
€0.00
|
€115.80
|
€115.80
|
Ms. Mary Coughlan
T.D. Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment
|
Drivers Salary and related remuneration Costs
|
Mileage and Subsistence
|
Total
|
2010
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
2011
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
Mr. Dara Calleary T.D. Minister for Labour Affairs
|
Drivers Salary and related remuneration Costs
|
Mileage and Subsistence
|
Total
|
2010
|
€78,881.22
|
€32,255.58
|
€111,136.80
|
2011
|
€28,037.43*
|
€7912.66
|
€35,950.09
|
*Inclusive of Civilian Drivers Severance Payments
Mr. Conor Lenihan T.D. Minister for Innovation Policy
|
Drivers Salary and related remuneration Costs
|
Mileage and Subsistence
|
Total
|
2010
|
€84,658.34
|
€22,206.54
|
€106,864.88
|
2011
|
€37,699.79*
|
€4,690.65
|
€42,390.44
|
*Inclusive of Civilian Drivers Severance Payments
Mr. Billy Kelleher T.D. Minister for Trade & Commerce
|
Drivers Salary and related remuneration Costs
|
Mileage and Subsistence
|
Total
|
2010
|
€75,852.14
|
€41,705.93
|
€117,558.07
|
2011
|
€44,339.54*
|
€12,734.51
|
€57,074.05
|
*Inclusive of Civilian Drivers Severance Payments
Mr. John Perry T.D. Minister for Small Business
|
Drivers Salary and related remuneration Costs
|
Mileage and Subsistence
|
Total
|
2011
|
€54,721.44
|
€35,124.20
|
€89,845.64
|
2012
|
€79,462.62
|
€45,397.20
|
€124,859.82
|
2013
|
€77,558.38
|
€45,182.72
|
€122,741.10
|
Mr. Seán Sherlock T.D. Minister for Research & Innovation
|
Drivers Salary and related remuneration Costs
|
Mileage and Subsistence
|
Total
|
2011
|
€52,677.91
|
€23,568.71
|
€76,246.62
|
2012
|
€76,832.88
|
€33,080.93
|
€109,913.81
|
2013
|
€78,439.09
|
€33,222.23
|
€111,661.32
|
Mr. Richard Bruton T.D. Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation
|
Drivers Salary and related remuneration Costs
|
Mileage and Subsistence
|
Total
|
2011
|
€48,449.14
|
€6,084.31
|
€54,533.45
|
2012
|
€76,628.17
|
€7,023.22
|
€83,651.39
|
2013
|
€79,264.69
|
€6,182.51
|
€85,447.20
|