Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Finance the total amount spent on taxis by his Department since February 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37325/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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In response to the Deputy’s question my Department spent €36,748.16 on taxis since February 2011. Some €15,263.25 of this relates to taxis undertaken domestically. My Department has a policy of ensuring that staff who require to use taxis for official purposes are required to pay the costs themselves and claim recoupment through our accounting system. As well as individual trips the domestic costs include taxi’s ordered centrally through corporate services for business reasons. In the period in question some € 11,941.70 was spent on taxis ordered centrally. Included in this amount are costs related to taxi’s order in respect of the business requirements of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reforms as separate billing arrangements for such requirements were not introduced until December 2011. The remaining €21,484.91 spend on taxis in the period relates to taxis booked while abroad on Departmental business. Claims for these costs are paid through our accounting system on production of a valid receipt.