Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 July 2013
426. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide the saving to the Exchequer if the pay of all his special advisers, and those of his Ministers of State, were capped at the first point on the principal officer pay scale. [36509/13]
View answerAs I have previously advised the House, I appointed Mr. James Kenny and Mr. Damien Garvey as my special advisors with effect from 7th June 2011 and 2nd April 2012 respectively. Mr. Dinny Mc Ginley T.D., Minister of State in my Department has not appointed any Advisors.
Both of my Advisors were appointed at the first point of the Principal Officer standard scale, in accordance with the Guidelines on the staffing of Ministers' Offices. Mr. Kenny and Mr Garvey are currently on the third and second points of that scale respectively.
The annual saving to this Department if a pay cap were to be applied to their salaries is as set out in the table below.
|
Special Adviser |
Current Salary |
Salary - if pay capped at the first point of the principal officer standard scale |
Annual saving to the Exchequer if pay cap applied to special advisors' pay |
|
James Kenny* |
€42,941 |
€36,912 |
€6,029 |
|
Damien Garvey |
€78,670 |
€75,647 |
€3,023 |
|
Annual Saving |
€9,052 |
*As Mr. Kenny is in receipt of a public service pension of €38,735, his current salary, of €81,676 has been abated to €42,941 per annum.
