asked the Taoiseach the amount paid in travelling expenses to each Minister of State in his Department, from 1 November 1983 to 1 November 1984.

2.

asked the Taoiseach the amount paid to each civilian driver employed to drive the private cars of Ministers of State in his Department, from 1 November 1983 to 1 November 1984.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together and to circulate with the Official Report a statement giving the information sought.

Following is the statement:

STATEMENT

Notes:

* The Government Whip uses an official State car full-time.

** Minister of State Deputy Fennell uses an official car occasionally.

In regard to the figures which the Taoiseach has before him, it should not be too onerous for him to give them to the House now. Only two figures should be involved. How many figures has the Taoiseach got?

If the Deputy wishes I can get the figures in respect of Deputy Seán Barrett, Chief Whip. His position continues as before with the use of an official State car full-time. In the case of Deputy Nealon, Minister of State responsible for Arts and Culture, the total of the travelling expenses and payment to civilian drivers added up to approximately £36,000. In the case of Deputy Nuala Fennell, the figure is £5,000. These figures compare with an average annual official cost of providing official transport and drivers estimated at £77,000 per user in January-February 1983.

I asked the Taoiseach for two separate figures. Is he adding the two together?

I am. It is all set out in the statement. I am only trying to facilitate the Deputy.

Could the Taoiseach tell me how much was paid to Deputy Nealon?

I have just given the figure.

No, the Taoiseach gave me a global figure. How much was paid to Deputy Nealon? Was he paid £36,000.

No.

I am asking the Taoiseach to give me the right figure.

I do not know if it is in order. I would be happy to do so but normally with written replies one does not read out everything that is in them.

The Chair has tried to take the view on assuming the Chair that a question was answered either orally or by way of a separate statement. I regret to say that the Chair did not succeed in getting that done because there was leeway here and there tends to be a mix which I think is undesirable. It should be answered either by an oral statement or a written statement, but perhaps we will get to that. I have no objection to it being answered.

There are only two Ministers of State involved, Deputy Nealon and Deputy Fennell.

For Deputy Nealon in respect of the two drivers——

No, what was paid to the Minister?

Allow me to answer the question. The Deputy asked the question, let me answer it. In respect of the two civilian drivers the total cost is £22,736.53. Travel expenses paid to the Minister of State were £13,592.20. The sum of the two added together is about £36,000 which is rather less than half the average cost per user previously. In the case of Deputy Fennell, Minister of State responsible for Womens' Affairs, the sum of £5,042.08 was paid for travelling expenses and there was no payment of civilian drivers. She makes very occasional use of the official car. Again, that compares favourably with the £77,000 previously. The Deputy will see that the net economies involved are very substantial indeed, exceeding in the case of these two Ministers over £100,000.

Is the Taoiseach saying that the Minister of State, Deputy Nealon, has been paid £13,000 for travelling expenses?

Yes.

Is the Minister saying that he did not have to pay for the driver, that this was mileage paid straight into his pocket?

It was mileage allowance paid in accordance with the rules laid down and announced at the time the scheme was introduced.

For use of his car.

It is similar to what Deputies and civil servants get in the way of mileage allowance, as the Deputy is aware.