Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 317: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount of mileage clocked up on a monthly basis for which expenses were claimed for all Ministers attached to his Department since March 2011; the amount claimed in mileage expenses on a monthly basis for all Ministers attached to his Department since March 2011, and the full list of trips for which mileage expenses were claimed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10804/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with the Government Decision of the 15th March 2011 I use my private car instead of a State car for official business. Under this arrangement I may claim mileage expenses in accordance with rates and regulations set down by the Department of Finance. Similarly, the two Junior Ministers attached to my Department are also covered by the same arrangement emanating from a previous Government Decision relating to the use of private cars instead of State cars. The mileage rates payable include capital costs as well as depreciation, comprehensive insurance (Class 1), maintenance and petrol.

Please find details below of the official mileage incurred by nisters in my Department for which expenses have been claimed to date:

With regard to the element of the question relating to the full list of trips for which mileage expenses were claimed, I wish to advise the Deputy that the basis on which ministerial mileage is calculated does not require individual trips to be recorded. In accordance with the provisions of the Government Decision, the mileage allowance is reimbursed "on the basis of a statement furnished from time to time by the office-holder certifying the total mileage travelled and related to the office, in the car provided by the office holder in place of a State car, in the period covered by the claim."

It should be noted that based on Department of Justice, Equality and Defense estimates, the previous average costs for the provision of ministerial transport was of the order of €280,000 per annum.