Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 554: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the annual cost of the new scheme introduced for the provision of drivers for Ministers in 2011 and to date in 2012; if he will provide a comparison of the annual cost of the provision of civilian drivers and the Ministers using their own cars with the previous scheme of Garda drivers and State cars. [25368/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The total cost of the scheme for the provision of ministerial drivers for myself and Minister of State McEntee for 2011 was €155,447 which is made up of drivers' salaries, mileage and subsistence. The corresponding figure for 2012 to date is €78,731.

Prior to the introduction of the above scheme, the cost of Ministers' drivers and cars was borne by the Department of Justice and Law Reform. The system for the provision and transport of transport for Ministers changed from the use of official to private cars on the appointment of the Government in March 2011. My understanding is that the average annual cost of providing a State car under the previous administration was €280,000. Under current arrangements the average annual cost is less than €100,000.