Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

197. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent by her Department on Ministerial drivers and associated travel expenses for each of the past four years; the way this compares to similar expenditure for the four years 2007 to 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2528/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On taking office, this Government reformed the transport arrangement for Ministers which has radically reduced the cost of travel. The Government decided to confine the use of State cars from 1 May 2011 to the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence. As a result, the average cost of providing transport has been reduced by 65% - from an average cost of €280,000 per minister in 2010 to a current annual estimate of €100,000 per annum.

The previous practice whereby all Ministers were provided with State cars and Garda drivers fell within the remit of the Department of Justice and in this regard details of the costs involved in respect of 2010 and the first four months of 2011 would be a matter for my colleague the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence.

The total cost of my ministerial transport in the Department for 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 to my appointment as Tánaiste on 4 July 2014 is outlined in the table below. The cost includes mileage for the use of my own car for official business and remuneration (including employers liability with regard to PRSI) for two civilian drivers to that date.