Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 820: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of official drivers he has; the salaries of these drivers and their total remuneration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11056/09]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 822: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of drivers for each individual Junior Minister in his Department and their remuneration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11107/09]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 823: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of drivers he has working for him and their remuneration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11132/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 820, 822 and 823 together.

There are no drivers employed directly by me or by Mr. Pat Carey, T.D., Minister of State at my Department and at the Department of the Taoiseach. Under a long-standing arrangement, all Government Ministers and certain other office holders are provided with a State car, which is driven by a member of an Garda Síochána from a pool of Gardaí who are allocated on a full-time basis to Ministers. These Gardaí provide personal protection in addition to their driving duties. The cost of this service is funded from the Vote for an Garda Síochána.