THE MINISTERIAL Mercedes, which changed for voters over the years from being a sign of local status to one of excess, will cease to be a familiar sight in most constituencies from today.
It was revealed last October that providing State cars and Garda drivers had cost almost €11 million over the previous two years.
Fine Gael and Labour made pre-election commitments to reduce the cost involved, and Ministers were given until the weekend to sort out new transport arrangements when the two parties came into power.
With the exception of President Mary McAleese, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and Minister for Justice Alan Shatter, Ministers will provide their own cars from now on.
They will be entitled to mileage and to hire two civilian drivers paid for by the State.
The new arrangements are similar to those in place for several years for Ministers of State.
Former president Mary Robinson, and former taoisigh Liam Cosgrave, Garret FitzGerald, Albert Reynolds, John Bruton, Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen, will also lose their State cars, although they will be entitled to official transport when attending State functions.
Chief Justice John Murray and Director of Public Prosecutions James Hamilton retain their official cars.
Mr Shatter, whose job it was to inform former senior office holders of the loss of the perk, has said the average annual cost of transport for a Minister of State, including drivers’ pay, was €120,000.
That contrasted, he said, with the estimated €280,000 it cost to provide senior Ministers with official cars and Garda drivers.
The 60 or so Garda drivers will be redeployed within the force and most of the vehicles in the car pool sold off.
Garda drivers worked hard and put in long hours while on duty. Some became a friend and confidante of the minister, while others had a tense relationship with their political boss, particularly in cases where the State car also became the family car.
The job was well remunerated, and Garda drivers who had three years’ service in the ministerial car pool in the last 10 years of service in the force could retire on annual pensions almost equal to those of Garda superintendents.
