Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 450: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the cost of providing transport including their official car to Ministers of State in his Department and staff for each year from 1997 to date in 2007. [33672/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am assuming the Deputy is referring to the cost of providing transport which is supplied directly by my Department and is not referring to the cost of public or commercial transport such as air travel and taxis. The position is that my Department does not supply official cars or other forms of transport to Ministers of State or their staff. Ministers of State use their private cars and receive mileage allowances based on recorded usage. My Department also pays the salaries of drivers who are engaged by the Ministers of State for the duration of their term of office.

Staff in Ministers of State's Offices are entitled to claim mileage allowances in respect of travel undertaken in their private vehicles in accordance with normal civil service travel guidelines.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 451: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the cost of him using public transport for every year since 1997 to date in 2007; and the cost of providing similar services to Ministers of State and staff for the same period. [33687/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I assume that the Deputy's question refers to bus and rail travel. However, in the time available to me, it has not been possible to compile the information sought by the Deputy. I have asked my officials to review the Department's records as quickly as possible and as soon as the information becomes available I will communicate it to the Deputy.