Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Finance the rate of travel expense that is mileage paid for use of his private cars; the rate of subsistence payments and any other allowances available to him and his Ministers of State in the course if their appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17240/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Since 1 May 2011 a Cabinet Minister with the exception of Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and 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 and are as follows since 5 March 2009;

Rates per Kilometre

Rates per Kilometre

Rates per Mile

Official Motor Travel in a calendar year;Engine Capacity up to 1200cc;Engine Capacity 1201cc to 1500cc; Engine Capacity 1501cc to 2000cc; Engine Capacity 2001cc and over.

Official Motor Travel in a calendar year;Engine Capacity up to 1200cc;Engine Capacity 1201cc to 1500cc; Engine Capacity 1501cc to 2000cc; Engine Capacity 2001cc and over.

Ministers including Ministers of State may appoint two civilian drivers the salaries for whom are paid by the Minister's respective Department. Ministers on official overnight business at least 48.23 kilometres away from their home or HQ may claim the vouched cost of a hotel room including tax and up to 15% service charge. They may also claim an overnight subsistence allowance of €72.66 i.e. half the civil service Class A overnight rate of €108.99, increased by one-third. Ministers are not paid overnights for their attendance at their departments.

Ministers may also be entitled to civil service day subsistence rates where they are on official business at least 5 kilometres away from their home or HQ for at least 5 or 10 hours. Again Ministers do not receive such subsistence rates for attendance at their departments. The current rates are €33.62 for the 10 hour rate and €13.71 for the 5 hour rate.

Where Ministers travel abroad including Northern Ireland they may claim for the vouched cost of a hotel room and up to 15% service charge plus the civil service Class A conference rate for the location increased by one third with the exception of the USA and Canada, where it is increased by a half. There are different rates depending on the location. There are no other allowances currently payable in respect of Ministers and Ministers of State in my Department.