Ministerial mileage claims to take account of 'personal travel'

Ministers are to make a cut to their mileage claims to take account of "personal travel".

Members of Cabinet and junior Ministers who provide their own cars will cut the claims by 10% every month.

It follows a review of the scheme put in place by the Coalition last year, whereby only the Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and Justice Minister Alan Shatter are provided with State cars for security reasons.

The Cabinet has also decided to pump a further €36m into CIE to protect Ireland's public transport services.

The decision will raise CIE's subvention this year to €278m, the fourth highest allocation ever.

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar and Public Transport Minister Alan Kelly said today's intervention will ensure CIE remains adquately funded for the immediate future and can continue to provide sufficent service to the travelling public.