Ministerial Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 November 2011

Tuesday, 15 November 2011

Questions (302)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

318 Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of her constituency and parliamentary staff, appointed following the February 2011 elections, on salaries that exceed their applicable pay scale grade; the number of her existing and parliamentary staff employed prior to the February 2011 elections but awarded salary increases following the election that exceed their applicable pay scale grade; and if she will provide their annual salary details in a tabular format. [34576/11]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton)

Since my appointment on 9 March 2011, I have appointed a Special Adviser, a Press Adviser, a Personal Assistant and a Personal Secretary.

The applicable pay scale grade for Special Advisers is the Principal Officer (standard) scale: €80,051 to €92,672. As my Special Adviser was previously employed in the private sector on a salary package that was more than twice the highest point of the Principal Officer (standard) scale, I sought sanction from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for remuneration in excess of the applicable pay scale grade. A single point salary of €127,796 was sanctioned by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform effective from 29 July 2011. This represents a reduction of over one third in my Special Adviser's previous salary in the private sector. My other staff are paid within the appropriate applicable pay scale grades.

Question No. 319 answered with Question No. 268.