I propose to take Questions Nos. 1327 and 1349 together.
There are currently 8 staff in the Ministers office and 5 staff in the constituency office, as detailed below. Only 2 of these, my Policy Adviser and Personal Assistant, are non-civil servants. There are no staff assigned to a Minister of State in my Department. In total, including the Press Officer mentioned below, there are 14 staff between both offices.
I have also appointed, on a contract basis for my term of office, a civil servant, Ms Geraldine Butler, as a Press Officer. She is currently on a salary of €73,610. This officer is on call on a seven day per week basis and is not entitled to overtime. The total amount claimed by her in expenses to date is €110.69.
The Deputies may be interested to know that, as detailed below, there were near ly three times as many Ministerial staff in this Department in 1996. At that time, there were 17 staff in the Minister De Rossa's office, 3 of whom were non-civil servants. Minister De Rossa also had a policy unit with 6 staff, 5 of whom were non-civil servants. No such unit has been put in place by any Minister since 1997. The Department also had a Minister of State in 1996, Bernard Durkan TD, who had 13 staff. The total staffing, therefore, was 36 in 1996, compared with 14 now. The total number of non-civil servants was 12 at that time, compared with 2 at present.
The details of the current staffing, that in 1996 and that in 2007 are below.
Minister's Office
Civil Servants
1 Press Officer on a salary of €73,610
1 Private Secretary on the Higher Executive Officer pay scale (€46,558 to €59,097), with a private secretary allowance of €20,182 per annum.
1 Executive Officer on a pay scale of €30,566 to €48,504
Three Clerical Officers on a pay scale of €22,609 to €36,667
Two Clerical officers on a pay scale of €23,801 to €38,593 (these staff pay a class A PRSI contribution).
The total cost of overtime and expenses incurred to date in 2008 for these officers is €995.40 and €199.20 respectively.
Non-civil servants
1 Policy Adviser, Averil Power, paid on the Principal Officer scale, with a current salary of €97,109 per annum. This officer is on call on a seven day per week basis and is not entitled to overtime. No expenses have been incurred by this person to date.
Constituency Office
Civil servants
1 Executive Officer on a pay scale of €32,179 to €51,0541
Clerical Officer on a pay scale of €22,609 to €36,6672
Clerical officers on a pay scale of €23,801 to €38,593 (these staff pay a class A PRSI contribution)
Non-civil servants
1 Personal Assistant, Mr. Peter O'Brien, currently being paid €55,030 per annum. To date in 2008, no overtime or expenses have been paid to the staff in my constituency office. However, it is estimated that overtime costs in the region of €7,500 will arise during 2008.
1996 STAFFING Minister's Office (including constituency office)
Civil Servants
1 Programme Manager
1 Private Secretary
3 Executive Officers
7 Clerical Officers
2 Clerical Assistants/ Typists
Non Civil Servants
1 Special Adviser
1 Personal Assistant
1 Personal Secretary
Policy Unit
Civil Servants
1 Principal Officer level
Non Civil Servants
1 Senior Research Assistant
1 Research Assistant
2 Research Assistants (Part-time)
1 Administrative Assistant
Minister of State's Office
Civil Servants
1 Private Secretary
2 Staff Officers
3 Clerical Officers
3 Clerical Assistants/ Typists
Non Civil Servants
1 Personal Secretary
1 Personal Assistant
2 Civilian Drivers
2007 STAFFING
Minister's Office
Civil Servants
1 Private Secretary on the Higher Executive Officer pay scale (€46,646 to €59,213), with a private secretary allowance of €19,690 per annum. 1 Executive Officer on a pay scale of €29,093 to €46,167
One Clerical Officer on a higher scale of €23,086 €36,546 (salary adjusted to take account of work-sharing)
Three Clerical Officers on a pay scale of €22,057 to €35,772
Two Clerical officers on a pay scale of €23,221 to €37,651
Constituency Office
Civil Servants
1 Executive Officer on a pay scale of €30,628 to €48,594
1 Clerical Officer on a pay scale of €23,221 to €37,651
Non Civil Servants
1 Personal Assistant on a pay scale of €44,646 to €59,213
1 Constituency Assistant on a pay scale of €44,646 to €59,213
In addition to these staff, Minister Cullen also had a press adviser in 2007, who was paid on a pay scale of €82,016 to €95,363.
Overtime payments in 2007 amounted to €19,500.22
No expenses were paid to any of these staff in 2007.