Written answers
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
Ministerial Transport
9:00 pm
Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 284: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he uses a State car; the type of car that is used; how often he has used it since coming to office; the cost of the person employed to drive the car; the cost of their salary; the cost of their vehicle expenses; if the person employed as their driver was previously a State employee; if that person is also in receipt of a State pension; the total cost of the service to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9721/12]
Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Deputy may be aware that since 1 May 2011 all Cabinet Minister with the exception of Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister for Justice & Law Reform now use their own cars on official business. All Ministers are now paid for official mileage up to 96,540 kilometres [or 60,000 miles] per annum. Ministers of State have used their own cars on official business since 1984.
The travel rates payable depend on the car engine size.
There is no payment for the cost of a car used on official business and there are no fixed payments towards changing a vehicle.
The travel rates are designed to compensate for the use of an individuals car on official business. The expenses that are covered by the motor travel formula can be broken into two categories; the overhead and the running costs. The overhead costs include depreciation, insurance costs, AA/RAC membership, driving licence and car tax. The running costs include the cost of maintenance, tyres, oil and petrol. This is the same basis used within the civil service and revenue.
There are two civilan drivers employed to drive my car. The salary of each driver is €631.75 per week and they work week on week off.
In relation to milage expenses I have claimed a total of €8,799 since taking office.
For information purposes I have included details of the current Ministerial travel rates effective as from 5th March 2009.
Ministerial Travel Rates
Effective from 5 March 2009
Rate per Miles
| Official Motor Travel in a calendar year | Engine Capacity up to 1200cc | Engine Capacity 1201cc to 1500cc | Engine Capacity 1501cc to 2000cc | Engine Capacity 2001cc and over |
| 0 – 4000 miles | 62.94 cent | 74.42 cent | 95.05 cent | 114.06 cent |
| 4001 miles & over | 34.13 cent | 38.00 cent | 45.79 cent | 54.95 cent |
Rates per Kilometres
| Official Motor Travel in a calendar year | Engine Capacity up to 1200cc | Engine Capacity 1201cc to 1500cc | Engine Capacity 1501cc to 2000cc | Engine Capacity 2001cc and over |
| Up to 6437km | 39.12 cent | 46.25 cent | 59.07 cent | 70.89 cent |
| 6438km and over | 21.22 cent | 23.62 cent | 28.46 cent | 34.15 cent |
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