Translink uniforms cost at least £666k

“Translink has advised that the cost of a uniform ranges between £180 to £200 depending on the grade of the employee, the function that they undertake and the different items of uniform required for that role,” the Minister told East Londonderry MLA George Robinson in response to an Assembly Question.

Translink said costs incurred in any one year will depend on the required numbers of uniforms required across 3,700 staff.

The Minister also revealed that the total cost of paying the salaries and fuel expenses of Northern Ireland Railway line managers was £1,811,010.

“The annual salary cost of these 35 staff is estimated at £39,206 per person. This excludes National Insurance contributions and pension contributions estimated at £10,336 annually,” he stated.

“Of the 35 staff, 10 are provided with cars by virtue of the requirements of their positions. That is, Permanent Way and Signaling Engineers who require access to sites, some of which are remote, and who are permanently on call and need to be readily mobile to attend meetings or carry out inspections.

“These users are provided with fuel cards and the relevant fuel card costs for the year to date (April-August 2011) are £7,704 (exclusive of VAT ),” the Minister explained. Translink indicated that these staff did not receive bonuses.