Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

240. To ask the Minister for Health the annual cost of the salaries of any recently appointed ministerial Garda drivers to his Department; the cost of the annual salary of the existing civilian Garda drivers in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9032/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There are in total seven civilian drivers currently employed by the Department, between them assigned to the Minister for Health and each of the three Ministers of State at the Department of Health. The salary for civilian drivers is €741.26 PPC per week since 1st February 2022. The drivers work on a week on/week off basis.

In January 2022 two Garda drivers were assigned by an Garda Síochána to provide these services for the Minister for Health and will replace the services of two of the civilian drivers currently employed by the Department.

The salaries of the Garda drivers are a matter for an Garda Síochána and are not paid by the Department of Health.