Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 815: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the items that may be claimed by staff in his Department for travel and subsistence and incidental expenses; the average payment to staff members in expenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36092/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport reimburses staff for official travel only. The Travel and Subsistence allowances are paid only in respect of necessary absence from headquarters. All travelling duties must be planned in order to reduce the total amount of travel to the minimum consistent with efficiency. This is enshrined in the Departments Travel policy document which reflects the Department of Finance Circular 11/1982 'Travelling and Subsistence Regulations' and 'Foreign Policy Guidelines 2009'.

The total spend on Travel and Subsistence for the period 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012 was €775,602.

The amount paid to individual staff members is designed to provide reimbursement for out of pocket expenses incurred by them. On a simple average basis, the amount paid is €3,641 per member of staff who submit a travel claim. In practice the amount of payment to individual staff members will vary considerably.