Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 423: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 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. [9712/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Government decided on 15 March 2011, inter alia, that with the exception of the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, who retained their State car and Garda drivers, that the travel arrangements that were in place for Ministers of State would apply to all Ministers with regard to their official travel.

Under these new arrangements, Ministers could appoint two civilian drivers to drive the Minister's car and claim mileage in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines.

I appointed two civilian drivers on 2 May 2011. Both drivers are employed on a salary of €631.75 per week, which was set by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in agreement with the Minister for Finance. One of my drivers is a retired Garda and the other driver was not in State employment prior to taking up duty. My Department does not retain information regarding receipt of a State pension from previous employment for my civilian drivers.

The total cost of the service to date is €73,807.