Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for Finance 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 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. [9716/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Since 1 May 2011 Cabinet Ministers with the exception of An Taoiseach, An Tánaiste and the 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.

The salaries of the drivers (2) are paid separately and are not integrated within the rates. The salary of each driver is €631.75 per week and they work week on week off.

The current Ministerial travel rates are set out below. My mileage claims to date are €17,911.07.

Ministerial Travel Rates

Effective from 5 March 2009

Rate per Miles

Rates per Kilometres