Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Feb 1993

Vol. 425 No. 8

Written Answers. - Ministerial Staff.

Michael Noonan

Question:

43 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Finance if the Government has decided to authorise a cabinet system of personal advisers for each Minister; and, if so, if he will give details of the structure of this system, and the pay scale applicable to each departmental manager and other advisers.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

45 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Finance the total estimated annual cost to the Exchequer in terms of direct wage costs, resources, back-up services and support staff of the Special Advisers and Partnership Programme Managers to oversee the implementation of the Programme for a Partnership Government 1993-1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Desmond J. O'Malley

Question:

56 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Finance the estimated total annual cost of the programme managers and cabinets of Ministers as envisaged under the Programme for a Partnership Government 1993-1997.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

59 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the number, location, status and cost in a full year of the new offices/positions created by Government Ministers, Ministers of State since the formation of the Government; if such appointments require the provision of any extra office accommodation; if so, the cost of this, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Finance (Mr. B. Ahern)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 45, 56 and 59 together.

The arrangements agreed by Government for the staffing of the political offices of Ministers and Ministers of State provide that each member of the Government and each Minister of State may appoint the following staff: a Special Adviser; a Personal Assistant; a Personal Secretary.

In all cases the salary payable is salary prior to employment in such position plus an allowance of 10 per cent subject to specific maximum amounts. Those maxima are, in the case of a Minister, Special Adviser £40,500, Personal Assistant £21,500, and in the case of a Minister of State, Special Adviser £32,500, Personal Assistant £18,000.

Where a Personal Secretary to either a Minister or Minister of State is a Secretarial Assistant existing salary is augmented by an allowance of £15.38 per week.

In addition to the staff specified, each member of the Government is entitled to appoint a Partnership Programme Manager on salary terms identical to those of a special adviser. In some instances, the terms under consideration are significantly below the maximum and in others Managers drawn from the Civil Service will perform normal departmental duties so that the total additional cost involved will fall below this figure. Ministers are currently finalising their proposals in relation to the salaries and other conditions of the persons they propose to appoint to these positions so that a definitive and comprehensive list of appointees and their salaries is not yet available to my Department. A similar position obtains in regard to accommodation.