Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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308. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost incurred by his Department in 2018 for the use of taxi services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54208/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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In 2018 my Department incurred a cost of €22,216.11 on taxi usage for official purposes in Ireland and abroad. This expenditure is in respect of staff in the Department of Education and Skills including field officers in the Inspectorate and the National Educational Psychologist Service (NEPS). It should be noted that the expenditure figure may also include payments relating to a previous year.

My Department's policy for official taxi usage is to ensure the efficient and effective use of this resource and to ensure costs are kept to a minimum. Taxi usage by Department officials is acceptable only when there is an unavoidable business need and are used in circumstances where public transport is not available or feasible.