John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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78. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of travel and subsistence both foreign and domestic claimed by each Junior Minister and Secretary General in his Department for the period 2007 to date in 2013; the number of staff appointed by each Minister and Junior Minister in his Department or constituency office and their relevant cost including travel and subsistence in each case for the period 2007 to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22036/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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In response to the Deputy’s question the following table outlines details in respect of the amount paid in travel and subsistence payments made by my Department to the Junior Ministers in the Department for the period 2007 to date in 2013.

Travel and Subsistence payments made to Ministers of State

In relation to the three Secretaries General covered by the period in question a total of €13,531 was paid in relation to travel and subsistence payments. Some €1,696 related to domestic travel & subsistence and €11,835 related to foreign travel.

In relation to the number of staff that has been appointed since March 2011, I have made five appointments consisting of two advisers, one staff member to my constituency office and two civilian drivers.

The total payments to date including salaries and wages inclusive of employer’s PRSI contributions and travel and subsistence payments in respect of these five appointments amounts to €672,795. Some €456,218 of the total relates to the wage costs, travel and subsistence made to the two advisers and staff member in my constituency office with the remaining €216,577 of the total relating to the wage costs and travel and subsistence payments made to my two civilian drivers.

In relation to my predecessors as Minister for Finance the details for the period 1 January 2007 to 9 March 2011 are as follows:

In the period 8 May 2008 to March 2011 Mr Brian Lenihan appointed two special advisers and two members of staff to his constituency office. These appointees received total payments of €1,207,831 in respect of salary and allowances and travel and subsistence in the period in question.

In the period 1 January 2007 to 7 May 2008 Mr Brian Cowen’s two advisers and two constituency office appointees received total payments in respect of salary and allowances and travel and subsistence amounting to €320,079

The Deputy will be aware that previous Ministers availed of State cars with Garda drivers the estimated average annual cost of which was €280,000.