Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The information requested by the Deputy on the total cost to my Department of Ministerial transport in the years 2010 to 2013 is outlined in the table.

-	2010	2011	2012	2013
Minister’s transport costs	0	€63,550	€103,136	€107,642
Minister of State’s transport costs	0	€63,370	€96,685	€104,188

In 2010, all Government Ministers were provided with a State car that was driven by a member of An Garda Síochána from a pool of Gardaí, two of whom were assigned to the Minister at that time. The cost of this service was funded from the Vote of An Garda Síochána.

During this period, the Minister of State who was also assigned to the then Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, did not claim mileage in my Department.

The Government decided on 15 March 2011, inter alia, that with the exception of the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, who retained their State car and Garda Drivers, the travel arrangements that were in place for Ministers of State would apply to all Ministers with regard to their official travel.

Under these new arrangements, Ministers could appoint two civilian drivers to drive the Minister’s car and claim mileage in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines.

The salary and subsistence costs of the civilian drivers employed by my Department together with the mileage costs paid to the Minister and the Minister of State are included in the above figures. Foreign travel costs are not included.