Fit Kitt faces 500km trip in hectic one-day itinerary

AS the roles of 20 Ministers of State come under more scrutiny, one of their rank faces a hectic 500km itinerary to Limerick next Monday when his schedule will include attending the blessing of a ladder.

Later he will travel to another venue to attend the blessing of a new roof being put on an office.

Minister of State at the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Michael Kitt, TD, will give up a day at his office in Dublin’s Custom House to travel to a series of events at Newcastle West and Rathkeale.

According to the schedule of the ministerial visit, obtained from Limerick County Council, Minister Kitt is due at Newcastle West fire station at 2pm. While there he will attend the “acknowledgement and blessing of re-roofing and office extension” at the station. And during the ministerial visit, a new fire service tender will be blessed.

The minister will attend his third blessing of the afternoon when he travels to Rathkeale fire station. There he will be guest of honour at the blessing of a new ladder platform.

His hectic afternoon in Limerick will conclude when he announces the results of a council customer survey and hands out awards to six part time fire officers.

Mr Kitt’s Dublin office is a round journey of almost 500km from his Limerick destinations.

Unlike cabinet ministers, junior ministers do not have state cars and are paid mileage, with allowances to hire their own drivers.