Hike in costs of ministerial car travel after assignment of garda drivers

The State spent over €6.1m on the ministerial car service between October 1 last year and August 31 this year

Environment and Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has the only fully electric car in the ministerial fleet. Picture: Liam McBurney/PA

The bill for transporting Government ministers by car has more than doubled since they were assigned garda protection drivers for security purposes.

The State spent over €6.1m on the ministerial car service between October 1, 2022, and August 31, 2023, figures released via Freedom of Information showed.