Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the full list of allowances that are not subject to income tax and the rates applicable that are available to him and Ministers of State in his Department in respect of their official duties including allowances relating to periods when they are away from their offices, either within the State or abroad; and the actual amounts claimed and paid since 9 March 2011 to him and Ministers of State; if these are currently under review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35066/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Ministers and Ministers of State are entitled to the same allowances as Members of the Oireachtas with the some exceptions. No additional untaxed allowances are paid to either of the Ministers of State or myself by my Department in respect of our official duties.As the Deputy will be aware, Oireachtas expense allowances are exempt from taxation under section 836 of the Taxes Consolidation Act (which was inserted into this Act by section 3(7) of the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 2009).

Ministers and Ministers of State do not receive the Travel and Accommodation Allowance provided to Members of the Oireachtas. However, Ministers and Ministers of State outside the Dublin area who maintain second homes because of their official duties can claim an income tax deduction in respect of maintaining that second home as well as the annual mortgage repayment. The availability of this allowance is determined by the Revenue Commissioners. Ministers are entitled to claim travel expenses for official business in line with guidelines set down by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The amounts paid by my Department in respect of such expenses from 9th March 2011 to date are set out in the table below.