I propose to take Questions Nos. 269 and 270 together.
Staffing numbers in the offices of Government Ministers and Ministers of State are managed in line with Instructions issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, this includes both civil servants and ministerial personal appointments. Civil Service staff are assigned to Ministers’ Private Offices and also the Constituency Office in recognition of the additional workload required of Ministers. Under the current “Instructions” the staffing complement each Minister or Minister of State had in their capacity as a Member of the Oireachtas remains in place and tese staff remain on the payroll of the Oireachtas.
The staffing of my offices in my capacity as Minister for Jobs Enterprise and Innovation, and that of my Minister of State colleagues is as set out below in tabular format.
In addition to the following details, I can advise the Deputy whilst I currently have one Special Adviser reporting directly to me the Guidelines allow for two.
My colleague, Minister of State John Halligan, T.D, has recently received approval to appoint a Special Adviser. However, for administrative reasons, Minister of State Halligan appears on the staffing complement of the Department of Educations and Skills where he is also assigned and, therefore, his Special Adviser will be on the payroll of that Department also.
Finally, the Department has a Press Office in situ staffed by Departmental civil servants who support the Ministerial team.
Minister Mary Mitchell O'Connor, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
|
Office/Grade
|
Civil Servants
|
Ministerial Appointees
|
Salary
|
Minister's Private Office
|
Higher Executive Officer (Private Secretary)
|
1
|
|
HEO scale: €46,081 - €58,294
|
Minister's Private Office
|
Executive Officer
|
2
|
|
EO Scale: €27,739 - €47,975
|
Minister's Private Office
|
Clerical Officer
|
2
|
|
CO Scale €21,879 - €37,341
|
Minister’s Constituency Office
|
Clerical Officer
|
1
|
|
CO Scale €21,879 - €37,341
|
Special Adviser
|
|
|
1
|
PO Scale (non-ppc €75,647 - €92,550
|
Civilian Driver
|
|
|
2
|
€665 per week
|
Minister Pat Breen, Minister of State for Employment and Small Business
|
Office/Grade
|
Civil Servants
|
Ministerial Appointees
|
Salary
|
Minister’s Private Office
|
Executive Officer (Private Secretary)
|
1
|
|
EO Scale: €27,739 - €47,975
|
Minister’s Private Office
|
Executive Officer
|
1
|
|
EO Scale: €27,739 - €47,975
|
Minister’s Private Office
|
Staff Officer
|
1
|
|
SO Scale €34,771 - €46,171
|
Minister’s Private Office
|
Clerical Officer
|
1
|
|
CO Scale €21,879 - €37,341
|
Minister's Constituency Office
|
Clerical Officer
|
1
|
|
CO Scale €21,879 - €37,341
|
Civilian Driver
|
|
|
2
|
€665 per week
|
Minister John Halligan, Minister of State for Training, Skills and Innovation
|
Office/Grade
|
Civil Servants
|
Ministerial Appointees
|
Salary
|
Minister’s Private Office
|
Executive Officer (Private Secretary)
|
1
|
|
EO Scale: €27,739 - €47,975
|
Minister’s Private Office
|
Clerical Officer
|
2
|
|
CO Scale €21,879 - €37,341
|