The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the salaries of my special advisers is set out in the following tabular statement:
Title
|
Annual Salary
Post Implementation of the Haddington Road
Agreement
|
Savings if the salary is Capped at the 1st Point of PO Scale
|
Press Advisor
|
€75,647 (1st point of PO scale)
|
N/A
|
Special Advisor
|
€119,572
|
€43,925
|
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 which represented a reduction of over one third in my special adviser’s previous salary in the private sector at that time. The salary has been reduced in line with the Haddington Road Agreement as shown in the table.