Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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64. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the ministerial transport costs for the years 2010 to 2013, inclusive, for each Minister and Minister of State in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44893/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I attach below for the Deputy’s information details of transport costs in respect of the Ministers and Ministers of State appointed to my Department for the years 2010 - 2013. The costs detailed below cover the salary and related remuneration costs paid to Ministers’ Drivers (inclusive of Employers PRSI, Public Holiday Pay and Extra Attendance Payments) and the mileage and subsistence costs of Ministers and their drivers.

For the Deputy's information, my predecessor was provided with a Ministerial car and a Garda driver. The cost of the previous Ministerial transport scheme of Garda drivers and state cars were paid by the Department of Justice.

I would point out that it was estimated in 2011 that the saving to be achieved in not supplying State cars to Cabinet Ministers was of the order of €4m per annum. These estimates were based on the average cost of each State car including the cost of Garda drivers at €280,000 per annum. In the case of Ministers using their own cars, including the cost of 2 civilian drivers, it was calculated that the cost was in the region of €120,000 per annum per Minister. Following a review in 2012 it was found that the cost of the new system was lower than calculated and is in the order of an average of €100,000 per annum. This represents a saving of 65% on the previous transport system in place prior to May 2011 and supports the view that in value for money terms, the new transport arrangements are more cost effective than the previous system.

Mr Batt O’ KeeffeT.D. Minister for Enterprise Trade and Innovation