Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 19 Oct 1995

Vol. 457 No. 3

Written Answers. - Ministerial Costs.

Michael Smith

Question:

111 Mr. M. Smith asked the Minister for Defence the number and cost of staff in his general and private ministerial offices and the general and private ministerial offices of the Minister(s) of State at his Department; the number and cost of contract and part-time staff employed in such offices; the cost of all travel undertaken by him or the Minister(s) of State at his Department since appointment to office outlining the destinations visited, the duration, dates and purpose of the trips; the total expenses incurred by him or the Minister(s) of State at his Department; and the cost and names of consultancy services to his Department and each State body under the aegis of his Department to date in 1995. [15311/95]

Minister for Defence (Mr. Barrett)

The position with regard to the number and the cost of staff attached to my ministerial offices at the Department of Defence and the offices of the Minister of State for Defence is as follows:

	No. of Defence Civil Service Staff.	Total Annual Civil Service Staff Salary Costs.	No. of Contract Staff.	Half Annual Contract Staff Costs.
		£		£
Minister's Offices:	4(Private Secretary and three other Civil Servants)	71,350	4	49,286
Minister of State for Defence Office:	3(Private Secretary and two other Civil Servants)	53,929	Nil	Nil

The contract staff comprise the programme manager, special adviser, personal assistant and personal secretary. The contract staff costs are shared jointly by Defence and Marine Votes, reflecting my dual role. No part-time staff are employed.

With regard to the foreign travel element of the question, the position in relation to myself and the Minister of State at the Department of Defence is as set out in replies given to parliamentary questions on 17 and 18 October, 1995. In the case of home travel, I have visited various Defence Forces locations and the only costs involved were travel costs.

No consultants have been engaged by me. If the Deputy requires details of the consultancy services availed of by the Department, I will be happy to arrange to have such information supplied.