Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 November 2004
150 Mr. Timmins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of personnel who work in her private office; the rank and grades of these persons; the job descriptions of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27462/04]
View answerThe staffing complement of my private office consists of eight staff. A higher executive officer functions as my private secretary and is responsible for the co-ordination of my parliamentary, departmental, social and constituency responsibilities. An executive officer and a clerical officer plan and organise my diary and ensure that all necessary speeches and briefing material are requested and received on time. Another executive officer allocates written representations, which are received from both members of the Oireachtas and the public, to the relevant sections of the Department for the preparation of replies. A staff officer clears and issues final replies to members of the Oireachtas and the public and co-ordinates notes for the Order of Business. There are two other full-time clerical officers employed in my private office. One co-ordinates Government papers, memoranda and decisions and ensures they are distributed to the relevant section of the Department for appropriate attention. The other deals with both internal and external telephone queries and assists in the co-ordination of all written correspondence. Two 0.5 whole time equivalent clerical officers co-ordinate requests for speech material from other Departments.
As the Deputy is aware, all staffing levels are governed by the Department of Finance guidelines.
