Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 December 2004
187 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of civil servants and other staff employed on constituency and public relations work for each of his Ministers of State; the grade and remuneration of each of those members of staff; and if he will compare those employees with those employed by the corresponding Minister of State at November 2001. [31697/04]
View answerThere are no civil servants or other staff employed on constituency or public relations work for the Minister of State in my Department.
As the Deputy is aware, my Department was established in June 2002, and it is difficult to make direct comparisons with the situation pertaining in November 2001, given the major changes in functions and personnel that have taken place in the meantime. I can confirm, however, that in November 2001 the Minister of State at the then Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands had a total of three staff engaged on constituency work at the grades of personal assistant, personal secretary and clerical officer, who were remunerated in accordance with the standard pay scales for those grades.
