Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 518: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of ministerial cars converted to environmentally friendly and fuel efficient alternatives; the Departments they belong to; the number of Ministerial cars that are diesel; the number that are hybrid; the number powered by biofuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25367/07]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 548: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he plans to instruct the Office of Public Works to source a biofuel or hybrid vehicle when Ministerial vehicles are replaced. [25080/07]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 549: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the date Ministerial vehicles were acquired by the State; the number of miles that have been accumulated since this date by Minister; the vehicles engine specification; and the expected disposal date of the vehicles. [25095/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 518, 548 and 549 together.

The requirements for the fleet of cars provided for Members of the Government are subject to regular review and assessment in order to ensure that the most suitable vehicles are purchased having regard to a range of criteria including whole-of-life cost, fuel efficiency, economy and environmental considerations, bearing in mind the function of the vehicles and their suitability for the specific transport requirements involved.

The details requested with regard to the cars for Members of the Government are set out in the following table.

The kilometrage figures are the latest readily available and refer to the distance covered by the vehicles. Ministers may from, time to time, be assigned a replacement car to cover service periods or other events and the assignment of vehicles may change with new appointments. In general, cars are considered for replacement when they are two years old and/or have travelled 160,000 kms.

An open tender competition for the supply of large executive saloon cars was held recently and a policy decision was taken to tender for diesel-powered vehicles on that occasion. No biofuel-powered cars are in use at present. Hybrid petrol-electric cars are already in use and more of these or biofuel cars may be purchased as appropriate.