03/07/2012

Nearly €2m Reduction In Ministerial Transport Costs

A government decision to end ministers entitlement to use State cars will result in a reduction of spending on ministerial transport of €1.97 million a year.

Figures supplied by 14 of the 15 Government departments show that while transport costs for the 15 Ministers of State have remained largely unchanged, there has been a dramatic reduction in the travel costs of senior Ministers.

The figures, adjusted to allow for annualised comparison, show that the overall cost of ministerial transport fell from about €5.24 million in 2010 to just over €3 million in 2011, a fall of about 39 per cent.

When the new Government assumed office last year, only three of the 15 Ministers, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and Minister for Justice Alan Shatter, retained their State cars and Garda drivers.

The remaining 12 Ministers were asked to supply their own cars with the Exchequer paying for two part-time civilian drivers.

The cost reduction is dramatic for some senior Ministers. The estimated cost of each Ministerial State car has been put at €280,000 a year.

(H/GK)


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