asked the Taoiseach the names, addresses and qualifications of drivers employed by his Ministers of State; the allowances and other expenses paid; and the estimated cost of travel in 1983 under the new arrangements in comparison with the cost of the provision of State cars in 1983.
Written Answers. - Ministers of State.
190.
Two civilian drivers, Mr. Michael O'Hara and Mr. Anthony Rouse, are employed on a temporary basis by this Department in respect of Mr. Ted Nealon, TD, Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and at the Department of Communications. They are remunerated at a rate equivalent to £172.50 per week and receive subsistence allowances at Civil Service Class C rates for official absences from home. The Minister of State receives the appropriate mileage allowance in relation to the official use of his private car.
Drivers are not employed by this Department on behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and at the Department of Justice, Mrs. Nuala Fennell, TD, receives the appropriate mileage allowance in relation to official travel in her private car. Mrs. Fennell also uses official transport on an occasional basis.
The average estimated annual cost of officially provided ministerial transport for each Minister of State was £77,000 per annum when the decision to alter the system was taken in 1983. Under the revised system, the annual cost to be met out of this Department's Vote, based on expenditure in 1983, would be an estimated total of £40,000 for the transport of two Ministers of State.
The Government Chief Whip, Mr. Seán Barrett, TD, is entitled to and uses officially provided transport.
191.
asked the Taoiseach if he has directly requested any Minister of State to relinquish membership of a local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
192.
asked the Taoiseach the number of Ministers of State who are members of local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I would refer the Deputies to my reply to a similar question on 29 November 1983. The position has not changed since that time except for the appointment of Deputy Séamus Pattison to be a Minister of State on 15 December 1983.
Deputy Pattison is a member of four local authority bodies. On his appointment, he was advised of the practice normally followed by Governments in recent years.