asked the Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry if he will state in respect of each Minister of State in his Department, for the last year for which figures are available; the number of civilian drivers employed; the total cost of salaries paid to the drivers; the total cost of expenses paid to the drivers; and the total mileage allowance paid to the Ministers of State in respect of the use of their own car.
Written Answers. - Ministerial Travelling Expenses.
71.
If the Minister of State had been provided with a car and official drivers in 1985 the estimated cost would have been £84,000. The position in respect of my Department for 1985 was that two civilian drivers were employed. The cost of salaries paid to drivers (including Employer's Contribution to PRSI) amounted to £21,698; travelling and subsistence expenses paid to drivers totalled £5,921; and the total mileage allowance paid to the Minister of State was £18,130, a grand total of £45,749.
A substantial reduction in costs has been achieved and the saving for 1985 was £38,000 or 45 per cent approximately, a considerable and worth-while benefit.