Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 336: To ask the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the rate of travel expense that is mileage paid for use of his private cars; the rate of subsistence payments and any other allowances available to him and his Ministers of State in the course if their appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17239/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Minister of State Penrose and myself are entitled to claim the following allowances from my Department. In relation to the use of our own cars on official business, we may claim for official mileage up to a maximum of 96,540 kilometres per annum. I can claim 59.07 cent per kilometre for the first 6,437 kilometres in respect of a car with an engine capacity between 1,501 and 2,000cc, and 28.46 cent per kilometre for 6,438 to 96,540 kilometres in any one year. In the case of Minister of State Penrose, he is entitled to claim 70.89 cent and 34.15 cent respectively in respect of a car with an engine capacity of 2,001cc and over.

In relation to subsistence, on official overnight business away from home or the Department's HQ, both Minister of State Penrose and myself are entitled to claim the vouched cost of a hotel room, including tax and up to 15% service charge. We are also entitled to claim an overnight subsistence allowance of €72.66, i.e. half the civil service Class A overnight rate of €108.99 prescribed by the Department of Finance, increased by one-third.

Where appropriate, we may also claim for 5 or 10 hours absences from home or headquarters as part of the foregoing subsistence arrangements, at the civil service Class A rates of €13.71 and €33.61 respectively. When travelling abroad, including Northern Ireland, we may claim for the vouched cost of a hotel room as set out above, plus the civil service Class A conference rate for the location increased by one third, with the exception of the USA and Canada, where it is increased by a half.

Minister of State O'Dowd does not claim travel and subsistence expenses from my Department.