Drivers for ministers and ex-taoisigh cost €11m in 2 years

THE Government racked up a bill of almost €11 million to provide cars and garda drivers for ministers and former taoisigh over the last two years.

Fine Gael has criticised the cost of providing and maintaining the “Ministerial Mercs” and pledged to cut the bill by half if returned to power.

The party’s transport spokesman, Simon Coveney, said paying an average of €5.5m a year to provide a car and garda driver for every minister could not be sustained in the current economic climate.