Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 579: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he uses a State car; the type of car that is used; how often he has used it since coming to office; the cost of the person employed to drive the car; the cost of their salary; the cost of their vehicle expenses; if the person employed as the driver was previously a State employee; if that person is also in receipt of a State pension; the total cost of the service to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9709/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I do not use a State car in the course of carrying out Ministerial functions. I have opted, instead, to use my private car. In so doing, I employ two civilian drivers at an annual salary of €32,965.00 each. In 2011, mileage costs amounting to €13,299 were incurred by me and subsistence amounting to €12,914, mainly in respect of overnight expenses, was paid to the two drivers. Neither driver was previously employed by the State and are therefore not in receipt of a state pension.