Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)
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Question 529: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of money that was spent on taxis by his Department in the past year; the amount of money that has been provided for in the next year for taxi services for his Department; the times that taxis can be used by staff members; the terms under which staff members can use taxis; the amount that was used by staff members; the amount that was used by outsiders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22723/11]

Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)
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Question 559: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount his Department has spent on taxis for staff and for others in each of the past four years. [23297/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 529 and 559 together.

My Department launched a Workplace Travel Plan in October 2008 to encourage greater use of sustainable transport options in the conduct of official business. The Plan aims to ensure that:

· use is made of public transport, to the greatest possible extent, in the course of official business; and

· walking/cycling to meetings within reasonable distance is encouraged and taxis are used only where absolutely necessary.

Accordingly, staff have been directed that taxis should only be hired where no suitable public transport is available or where the use of public transport would result in the loss of official time which it is necessary to avoid.

The cost of hiring taxis is part of the overall administrative overhead of the Department. Expenditure is closely monitored and no specific budget for taxi costs is set. It is not possible to give a breakdown of the amount that was used by staff as distinct from non-staff personnel. However, the usage of taxis by non-staff members would be in very limited circumstances where business requirements made it demonstrably necessary to do so.