Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Finance the provisions relating to delegate's allowance; if those provisions have changed in recent years; if the delegate's allowance is awarded in addition to travel subsistence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26243/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The criteria for the payment of delegate's allowance to civil servants is set out in Circular Letters 4/79 (grades at Assistant Principal level and above) and 1/81 (grades at Higher Executive Officer level and below).

Officers who travel outside Ireland and Britain as members of a delegation representing Ireland at meetings of the EU or other international organisations or with representatives of another government or governments qualify for payment of delegate's allowance. Additional payments are made to those who act as Chairpersons of EU committees or Working Groups during Ireland's tenure of the EU Presidency. Travel abroad for the purposes of attendance at training courses, fact-finding or familiarisation visits, seminars or meetings held solely to exchange information does not qualify for payment of delegate's allowance.

Delegate's allowance rates are reviewed periodically. The last review took place in December 2003 in advance of the Irish Presidency of the European Union in 2004. The delegate's allowance moves in line with general wage round increases. The current rates payable (effective from 1 September 2008) are as follows:

Delegate's allowance is payable in addition to reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses.