The conditions for teaching staff come under the remit of the Minister for Education and Youth in the first instance. My Department has overall responsibility for travel and subsistence matters for the Civil Service and these rates are widely used across the public service and by the Revenue Commissioners.
Motor travel expenses are reviewed according to a well-established methodology agreed by the management side and Civil Service staff representative bodies. The rates take into account a range of factors including insurance and the cost of vehicles. The use of this methodology ensures milage rates remain stable when there are fluctuations in the cost of any one element of the cost of operating a vehicle. The rates are reviewed regularly, and the most recent review was completed in late 2025.
The rates, including distance and engine bandings, are set as the result of careful consideration and are adopted by the Revenue Commissioners for taxation purposes. Changes to the rates would have significant impacts across the public and private sectors.
Government has recognised the impact of the increasing cost of motor fuel and has taken steps to help. As part of an ongoing engagement with the European Commission, Government has further reduced excise on petrol and diesel. When taken with a reduction in the NORA Levy, that means a total reduction of 32 cent off a litre of diesel and 27 cent off a litre of petrol. The reductions in the excise on fuel for consumers in effect from 14th April 2026 and will run until 31st July 2026. The already announced NORA levy reduction will also run until 31st July 2026.
The approach taken by Government through the provision of €750m of supports directly addresses recent fluctuations in fuel costs across the economy, is a more immediate response to rapid changes in fuel prices, and benefits all those across the economy who are affected.
