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23/04/2002
Ryanair slams Irish government travel spend figures
According to Irish low-cost airline Ryanair, civil servants in the Republic of Ireland are squandering taxpayers money by spending less than 1 per cent of their budget travelling with Ryanair.
Official statistics from Government Departments for the calendar year 2001 reveal that more than €4.5 million was spent on civil servants’ air travel but less than 1 per cent or just €23,737 was spent with Ryanair.
In a statement the no-frills air company said, “This represents a massive overspend and waste of taxpayers money on the part of Civil Servants.”
Commenting on the statistics posted on Monday April 22 Ryanair’s Commercial Director, Michael Cawley said: “This waste of taxpayers money is a scandal. Fat cat civil servants choose to fly with high fare airlines when cheaper, and more efficient, more on time and better frequency services are available. Government officials are wasting hard-earned taxpayers money on a commodity, which they could buy for a fraction of the cost. By spending less than 1 per cent of their budget with Ryanair they are blatantly choosing more expensive alternatives when cheaper fares are available. This is inexcusable and should be addressed at once.
“If they were to travel with Ryanair then over €3.4 million would be saved - consider the number classrooms or hospital wards that could be built with this money. This is truly a national disgrace.”
However a spokesperson for the Irish Government said the selection of airfares and subsequently air companies was not purely evaluated on the basis of cost.
“It takes into consideration a range of factors, the most important being the availability and suitability of services and schedules,” he said.
“The policy of refunds and the flexibility of travel arrangements are also considered when government officials are travelling.
“All government departments’ travel expense accounts are examined on a yearly basis. They are subject to an audit by an external auditor.”
“However it’s too early for the audit for 2001 to be carried out,” he added.
(AMcE)
Official statistics from Government Departments for the calendar year 2001 reveal that more than €4.5 million was spent on civil servants’ air travel but less than 1 per cent or just €23,737 was spent with Ryanair.
In a statement the no-frills air company said, “This represents a massive overspend and waste of taxpayers money on the part of Civil Servants.”
Commenting on the statistics posted on Monday April 22 Ryanair’s Commercial Director, Michael Cawley said: “This waste of taxpayers money is a scandal. Fat cat civil servants choose to fly with high fare airlines when cheaper, and more efficient, more on time and better frequency services are available. Government officials are wasting hard-earned taxpayers money on a commodity, which they could buy for a fraction of the cost. By spending less than 1 per cent of their budget with Ryanair they are blatantly choosing more expensive alternatives when cheaper fares are available. This is inexcusable and should be addressed at once.
“If they were to travel with Ryanair then over €3.4 million would be saved - consider the number classrooms or hospital wards that could be built with this money. This is truly a national disgrace.”
However a spokesperson for the Irish Government said the selection of airfares and subsequently air companies was not purely evaluated on the basis of cost.
“It takes into consideration a range of factors, the most important being the availability and suitability of services and schedules,” he said.
“The policy of refunds and the flexibility of travel arrangements are also considered when government officials are travelling.
“All government departments’ travel expense accounts are examined on a yearly basis. They are subject to an audit by an external auditor.”
“However it’s too early for the audit for 2001 to be carried out,” he added.
(AMcE)
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