Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

283. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total cost of Ministerial transport in his Department in 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date 2013; the number of drivers employed in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30551/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The cost of ministerial transport in 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013 is €101,974, €158,723, €198,184 and €108,128 respectively. These figures include the salary of the civilian drivers for the Minister and Minister of State, the subsistence costs incurred by the drivers and the amount of travel and subsistence paid to the Minister and the Minister of State. Cabinet Ministers with the exception of An Taoiseach, An Tánaiste and the Minister for Justice now provide their own car and are assigned 2 civilian drivers similar to the practice for a Minister of State. As a result of this there are 4 civilian drivers at my Department since 2011. All Cabinet ministers in the last Government were provided with a state car and drivers who were members of An Garda Síochána. The current Government on taking office decided to dispense with this practice due to its prohibitive cost, so while the cost incurred to this Department for Ministerial transport has increased primarily due to the employment of 2 additional Civilian Drivers, the overall cost of providing transport for Cabinet Ministers has been reduced considerably.