Written answers

Wednesday, 19 November 2014

Department of Justice and Equality

Ministerial Transport

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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95. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the ministerial transport costs for the years 2010 to 2013, inclusive, for each Minister and Minister of State in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44894/14]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Government introduced a number of changes for the provision of Office Holder transport during 2011. One of the consequences of that decision was that the transport arrangements in place for Ministers of State became applicable to Government Ministers, subject to very limited exceptions on security grounds. In addition, it was decided that former Presidents and Taoisigh would only be supplied with official transport for important State occasions. The revised transport arrangements came into operation for Government Ministers on 1st May 2011 and for former Office Holders on 16th June 2011.

Office Holder cars are currently placed at the disposal of the President, An Taoiseach, An Tánaiste, the Minister for Justice and Equality, the Chief Justice and the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote. In that context, I am informed by the Garda authorities that records in relation to Office Holder transport have not been maintained in respect of individual Office Holders. However, the Garda authorities have indicated that total expenditure on the provision of Office Holder transport in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 was as outlined in the following table:

YearExpenditure
2010€7.503 million
2011€4.595 million
2012€2.201 million
2013€2.160 million




With regard to the table, some of the costs arising in 2011 included costs associated with the service prior to and after the new transport arrangements had been fully introduced.

No transport costs for Ministers of State have been paid by my Department in the period March 2011 to the end of 2013. Details in relation to transport costs for Ministers of State for the period 2010 to March 2011 are not readily to hand. I will contact the Deputy directly when this information is available.

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