Vol. 485 No. 2
148 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of staff recruited by his Department since taking office; the function and remuneration, including expenses, of each of these staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22922/97]
I presume that the Deputy is referring particularly to staff recruited to my own office and those of my Ministers of State. In this case, may I refer the Deputy's attention to the answers to Parliamentary Questions No. 197 of 30 September and No. 83 of 1 October. These questions cover the number of staff recruited, their function and their remuneration. Since then, the salary of Minister of State Noel Davern's personal secretary has since been increased to £17,268. While there has been personnel changes among the drivers, the annual salary remains the same.
The expenses claimed by these officers since their appointments are £1,122.34 by the special adviser to the Ministers of State, £784.80 by my adviser and £1,714 by the drivers. All of these amounts are in respect of travel and subsistence for official travel undertaken by these individuals. Some £737.07 has also been paid to my personal secretary for overtime.
