The new motor travel rates commenced on 1/04/17 following approval from the department of public expenditure and reform as governed by DOH Circular 07/2017. Motor Travel rates are not, of course, intended to be a source of emolument or profit. They are intended to reflect the cost of both overhead and running costs of a member using his/her own vehicle for official purposes. The main factors taken into account in the revised methodology are as follows:

•             The average cost of a new car based on the best-selling cars in each of the engine size categories calculated by reference to actual car sales.

•             An assumption that the car is a new car and is replaced every 4 years with provision being made for financing and a residual value of the car after 4 years.

•             Insurance costs based on a 35-year-old Civil Servant, with a two year no claims bonus.

•             Car Tax - This is based on the new CO2 Emissions Bands and is an average of the bestselling cars.

•             Servicing and repair costs based on the figures given in the Automobile Association cost of motoring report each year.

•             Fuel costs based on data provided by the Automobile Association and apportioned between petrol\diesel to take account of the proportion of new cars (CSO figures) which run on diesel/petrol.

•             Replacement of tyres based on Automobile Association estimates of replacement costs.

The revised rates as per Circular 07/2017 reflect a lowering of the rates in the first 1500km, however, subsequent rates have been increased and thus members will see a significant advantage who use their vehicles more often on the business of the employer.

In terms of subsistence the ‘five hour’ rate of €14.01 and ‘ten hour’ rate of €33.61 remain unchanged. 

A new overnight rate of €133.73 will apply from 1st April, in recognition of the increasing costs of overnight accommodation.

http://circulars.gov.ie/pdf/circular/per/2017/05.pdf

Subsistence allowances abroad > http://circulars.gov.ie/pdf/circular/per/2017/07.pdf

The new rates were implemented following a review of civil service and third party adjudication, the PNA do not have negotiating rights in the civil service and were not party to these negotiations. The new motor rates in the civil service were then implemented in the public service in line with paragraph 2.28 of Haddington road seeking a standardisation of travel/subsistence across the public sector