Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount spent by his Department on drivers and Ministerial transport since February 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37583/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The total amount spent by my Department on drivers and ministerial transport in respect of the Minister of State and myself from February 2011 to date is €338,425.98. This figure includes the salary and subsistence costs of the drivers, mileage expenses, airfares and taxi/limousine hire when on official business.

The system for the provision of transport and drivers for Ministers changed from the use of official State cars and Garda drivers to private cars and civilian drivers 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 per Minster.