Ahern’s office pays €100,000 for taxis

GOVERNMENT spending came under renewed attack yesterday after it emerged that last year’s taxi bill for the Taoiseach’s office came to almost €100,000.

Civil servants working in Bertie Ahern's department spent some €95,000 on taxi fares in the course of their work, figures released yesterday reveal.

The latest expenditure figures follow a series of embarrassing revelations detailing the thousands of euro spent annually by the Taoiseach and Tánaiste on makeup.

It was also revealed last week that almost €100,000 was spent on food, wine and luxury chocolates for the Government jet last year, during just 386 hours of flying.

When averaged throughout the year, the taxi spend of civil servants in the Taoiseach's department comes to just under €2,000 a week or €365 a day.

In January alone, taxpayers forked out almost €13,500 on taxi transport for Bertie's civil servants, who number just under 300. The lowest monthly spend, which came during August, was almost €4,000.

However, in addition to the Taoiseach's civil servants, the taxi bill also accounts for several other bodies which route their bills through his department. These include the National Forum on Europe, the National Centre for Partnership and Performance, the National Economic and Social Development Office and the Moriarty Tribunal.

Labour's finance spokesperson Deputy Joan Burton yesterday called for the massive taxi spend to be subject to further scrutiny, at a time when Government spending on health and education is being severely cut.

"It is the responsibility of the Taoiseach to send out a message that taxis should only be used in exceptional circumstances," said Deputy Burton.

He said it should be possible for public servants travelling within Dublin city to take the bus or walk.

Last year's taxi bill is mostly divided between two Dublin taxi firms National Radio Cabs and Metro Cabs both of which have accounts with the Taoiseach's department.

However, an additional €2,242 worth of taxi fares was paid out to other firms.

It was also revealed yesterday that the bill for receptions held by the Taoiseach at Government buildings came to over €50,000.

This included one €16,000 reception held last February at Dublin Castle for the First Minister of Wales, Rhodri Morgan.