Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 201: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount spent by her Department on drivers and Ministerial transport since February 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20704/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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In line with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines on ministerial appointments, I employ two civilian drivers on a week on/week off basis to drive my private car on official business. Each driver receives €631.75 per week in respect of these duties and are not entitled to claim overtime. However, they are entitled to claim subsistence payments in respect of certified official travel at the appropriate Civil Service rates and under the regulations applying to such subsistence. A total of €4,469.02 has been paid since 2011 in this regard.

In addition, milage claims totalling €15,173.55 in respect of the use of my personal car on official business have been paid.