Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 586: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the annual cost of the new scheme introduced for the provision of drivers for Ministers in 2011 and to date in 2012; if she 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. [25370/12]

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 €16,246.87 in respect of the use of my personal car on official business have been paid.

I cannot make a comparison with the previous scheme of Garda drivers and State cars as this was a matter for the Department of Justice.