Former taoisigh to lose state cars
The Cabinet decided at its weekly meeting to end the situation whereby all senior ministers and certain former office-holders are entitled to “Ministerial Mercs”.
Once the arrangements are implemented, state cars and Garda drivers will be provided only for the President, Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Justice Minister, Chief Justice and Director of Public Prosecutions.
Other Cabinet ministers will no longer be entitled to a state car and Garda driver. However, they will be able to avail of the arrangements in place for ministers of state. The latter provide their own cars but are entitled to claim mileage and hire a civilian driver whose salary is paid by the state.
A state car and Garda driver costs roughly €280,000 per year per minister, according to Department of Finance figures. By contrast, the cost of a civilian car and driver works out at an average of €120,000 per year.
The Government said the arrangements would be in place by May 1 at the latest.
Former presidents and taoisigh will lose their automatic right to a full-time car and Garda driver. They will, however, be provided with cars and drivers when attending “important state occasions”.
The five former taoisigh who have state cars will be given three months’ notice in order to make alternative arrangements, the Government said.
Justice Minister Alan Shatter said the changes fulfilled commitments made in the Programme for Government to reduce the cost of ministerial transport. The move would also free up Garda resources, he said. At present, 54 armed officers are assigned to fleet duty to drive 27 current and former office holders.
Mr Shatter said the state fleet had cost €7.5m last year, and that the new arrangements could reduce this bill by €4m, although the Government was not immediately clear on some of the figures yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet announced it was reducing the number of staff each minister would be allowed in departmental and constituency offices. Cabinet ministers will be allowed a maximum of eight staff in their departmental offices (down from 10) and four staff in their constituency offices (down from six).
Ministers of state will be allowed five staff in their departmental offices (down from seven) and three staff in their constituency offices (down from five).
