Vol. 447 No. 1
91 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Finance the criteria used within Departments to determine the number of civil servants assigned on a permanent basis and on a temporary basis to constituency work; and if he has satisfied himself with the wide range in numbers of those undertaking such work in Minister's offices. [3466/94]
Staff in the constituency offices of Ministers serve in grades covered by the administrative budget agreements under which Departments, within an agreed budgetary limit, have total freedom in regard to the numbers, grading and development of staff at HEO level and below. My Department is, therefore, not involved in the assessment of staff needs in individual constituency offices. The Government, however, specified upper limits on the numbers of staff which may be so employed.
