Written Answers Nos. 126-145
126. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff employed by him and each Minister of State, including parliamentary assistants, secretarial assistants, special advisers, press secretaries and other positions, in tabular form; the pay rate for each assistant and the total cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39559/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the number of ministerial appointments in my Department is four. The following is a list of their roles and annual salaries.
|
Role |
Annual Salary |
|
Special Adviser |
€99,370 |
|
Press Adviser |
€87,258 |
|
Civilian Driver |
€32,965 |
|
Civilian Driver |
€32,965 |
|
Total Cost |
€252,558 |
I am also provided with the services of a personal assistant, in the role of Press and Parliamentary Advisor, and a personal secretary, both of whom are employees of and paid by the Houses of the Oireachtas.
127. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Social Protection if any staff employed in the public and Civil Service are seconded to work with him or any Minister of State in their constituencies; and the number of same and cost to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39574/16]
View answerWhile no civil or public servants are seconded to work in my constituency office, there are currently two civil servants from my Department working in the constituency office in the Department as follows:
|
Grade |
Salary scale: |
|
Executive Officer |
€29,024 to €45,616 |
|
Clerical Officer |
€23,177 to €37,341 |
I am also provided with the services of a personal secretary who is an employee and who is paid by the Houses of the Oireachtas.
128. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Social Protection the aggregate amount of employers’ PRSI paid in relation to Civil Service workers in gross income ranges (details supplied) in his Department for each of the years 2007 to 2015, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39685/16]
View answer129. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Social Protection the aggregate amount of employees' PRSI paid in relation to Civil Service workers in gross income ranges (details supplied) in his Department for each of the years 2007 to 2015, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39692/16]
View answer130. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Social Protection the aggregate net pay of Civil Service workers in gross income ranges (details supplied) in his Department for each of the years 2007 to 2015, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39699/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 128 to 130, inclusive, together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the information requested is not readily available within the timeframe for this PQ response. However officials of my Department are currently retrieving and collating the information requested and will forward to the Deputy when completed.
131. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39266/16]
View answerThe Central African Republic (CAR) is one of the world’s poorest countries. It has experienced decades of violence since gaining independence in 1962. Violence in 2012 plunged the country into further instability and widespread conflict, and a major humanitarian crisis. The humanitarian situation across the country remains extremely serious. 2.3 million people, out of a population of 4.6 million, are in need of humanitarian assistance, 1.1 million of them children. Life expectancy in CAR is now just 50 years.
Over 380,000 people are internally displaced, with a further 450,000 having fled to neighbouring countries. Those displaced within CAR are in need of protection and access to basic services, with approximately 40% in temporary camps. Over 2 million people are facing an emergency food security situation. In rural areas, only 34% of the population has access to protected water points, while in urban areas only 22% of the population has access to a safe water supply network.
In response to these urgent humanitarian needs, Ireland has contributed over €19 million in humanitarian assistance since 2013 to ensure access to food, health, shelter, and water and sanitation services for those most affected. Assistance is channeled through Ireland’s UN and NGO partners who have a presence on the ground and capacity for responding to complex crises. In 2016 alone, Ireland has provided just over €6 million to the crisis in CAR. This includes support to NGO partners Concern, Oxfam Ireland, and Plan International Ireland which are providing education, livelihoods, water and sanitation, and protection programmes for displaced and host communities.
Ireland has also contributed to the work of UN agencies and in particular the Common Humanitarian Fund for CAR. Ireland is a strong supporter of such Country-Based Pooled Funds which allow for decisions to be made locally on the allocation of resources to respond most effectively to urgent needs. Ireland provides €3 annually to the Fund which supports sectors such as food security, protection, education and shelter for communities affected by the crisis.
Ireland also provided €2 million to the UNHCR in 2016 for its Regional Response Appeal for CAR which directs humanitarian support to refugees from CAR currently seeking refuge in neighbouring countries.
In addition, we work closely with our EU partners on the humanitarian situation. In additional to individual member State contributions, EU funding for the Central African Republic has amounted to €21 million so far this year.
132. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the drought situation in Somalia; the efforts being made at an EU level to assist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39267/16]
View answerI am very concerned at the increasingly serious drought situation in Somalia, and its impact on vulnerable communities across the country. I discussed the political and humanitarian situation in Somalia during my visit to Kenya last week. Five million people are now food insecure throughout the country, with over a million facing crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity. This is a 20% increase since early 2016. Food prices are rising, and poor rainfall in southern and central Somalia has led to a dramatic reduction in cereal production. The severe food and nutrition situation particularly affects the estimated 1.1 million internally displaced persons, who are highly vulnerable to disease outbreaks and exploitation.
The EU is responding to the crisis through a range of measures. In December 2015, €17.5 million was allocated to Somalia through an EU package to respond to the effects of El Niño in the Greater Horn of Africa. This contribution was directed to addressing the effects of drought, primarily in Puntland and Somaliland. In October 2016, the European Trust Fund for Africa allocated a further €8 million to Somalia to respond to the effects of El Niño, including drought.
The European Commission has provided €29 million in humanitarian assistance to Somalia under the EU’s 2016 Horn of Africa Humanitarian Implementation Plan. This also supports communities coping with the effects of drought, including by providing livelihood and food assistance, and access to safe water. Somalia also benefits from longer-term development funding from the European Development Fund, with a focus on building resilience and long-term food security.
Ireland is also responding directly. We have provided €5.93 million in humanitarian assistance through UN agencies and NGOs in Somalia so far in 2016. We are also providing longer-term development funding of €1 million, through the NGO Concern Worldwide to address disaster prevention and preparedness, and rural development.
133. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures Irish Aid funds to specifically assist and support women in developing countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39268/16]
View answerIreland’s strong commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment is reflected both in the Government’s policy on international development, One World, One Future and in the review of Ireland’s foreign policy, The Global Island.
This is recognised internationally. In 2014, a comprehensive review by the OECD Development Assistance Committee of Ireland’s development cooperation noted that Ireland had “consistently played an important agenda-setting role on gender equality and women's empowerment”.
Ireland played a leadership role in the process of agreeing the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, adopted at the UN in September 2015, ensuring that specific targets on gender equality, including violence against women and girls, were included both under a standalone goal, and mainstreamed across the framework.
Irish Aid’s work on gender equality and women’s empowerment focuses on the provision of direct funding to gender equality programmes as well as ensuring the systematic integration of the needs and interests of women and girls into all aspects of the aid programme. It is estimated that 46% of Ireland’s bilateral ODA has gender equality and women’s empowerment as a key objective, significantly higher than the OECD average.
Funding in our key partner countries supports specific projects focused on addressing gender based violence, improving women’s political participation, increasing access to quality education and health care, and providing greater economic opportunities for women and girls. The importance of high quality secondary education for girls was impressed on me by the girls themselves when I visited secondary schools receiving Irish Aid funding in Moroto in Karamoja, during my visit to Uganda in July, and in Tuum in Samburu County in Kenya during my visit last week.
In addition, Ireland prioritises the strengthening of the capacity of the multi-lateral system to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment. Irish Aid provides core funding to UN Women, UNICEF and UNFPA, as well as direct support to a range of multilateral initiatives such the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women and the UN Programme on Gender Statistics.
The Government considers gender-based violence to be a fundamental abuse of human rights and a priority for the aid programme. We have prioritised policy development, funding and research to address the issue. The OECD concluded that Ireland has been a ‘powerful force behind the stronger donor focus on tackling violence against women’.
Most recently Ireland argued strongly for a clearer focus on gender and on gender based violence in humanitarian programming at the World Humanitarian Summit which I attended in Istanbul in May.
134. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of State boards under the remit of his Department or its agencies in tabular form; the total number of members of each board; the number of women on each board; and the percentage of each board that is made up of women. [39346/16]
View answerThere are no State boards or agencies under the aegis of my Department so the issue raised by the Deputy does not arise.
135. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff employed by him and each Minister of State, including parliamentary assistants, secretarial assistants, special advisers, press secretaries and other positions, in tabular form; the pay rate for each assistant and the total cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39554/16]
View answerThe following are the details of the Ministerial Appointees who have been assigned to my Department under the Guidelines on Staffing of Ministerial Offices for the 32nd Dáil. Office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, TD
|
Role / Title |
Number |
Annual Salary scale |
|
Special Adviser Civilian Driver |
2 2 |
€79,401 - €97,194 (tied to the PO salary scale) €34,699 |
Office of the Minister of State for European Affairs, EU Digital Market and Data Protection, Dara Murphy, TD
|
Special Adviser Civilian Driver |
1* 2* |
€61,966 - €72,546 (tied to the AP salary scale) €34,699 |
Office of the Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Joe McHugh, TD
|
Civilian Driver |
2 |
€34,699 |
*Recruitment process underway.
136. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if any staff employed in the public and civil service are seconded to work with him or any Minister of State in their constituencies; and the number of same and cost to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39569/16]
View answerThere are no such staff employed in my Department.
137. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the aggregate amount of employers’ PRSI paid in relation to Civil Service workers in gross income ranges (details supplied) in his Department for each of the years 2007 to 2015, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39682/16]
View answer138. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the aggregate amount of employees' PRSI paid in relation to Civil Service workers in gross income ranges (details supplied) in his Department for each of the years 2007 to 2015, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39689/16]
View answer139. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the aggregate net pay of Civil Service workers in gross income ranges (details supplied) in his Department for each of the years 2007 to 2015, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39697/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 137 to 139, inclusive, together.
The table provides details of net pay, employers’ PRSI (ER PRSI) and employees’ PRSI (EE PRSI) paid in relation to civil service workers in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, in the gross income ranges sought, for the years 2007 to 2015, as requested by the Deputy.
|
Year / Income Category |
ER PRSI |
EE PRSI |
Net Pay |
|
2007 |
4,084,097 |
2,412,691 |
59,214,631 |
|
01: €0 to €30,000 |
1,101,880 |
442,145 |
10,477,019 |
|
02: €30,000 to €40,000 |
574,210 |
318,198 |
6,430,148 |
|
03: €40,000 to €50,000 |
363,733 |
235,983 |
4,989,732 |
|
04: €50,000 to €60,000 |
284,845 |
205,665 |
4,566,584 |
|
05: €60,000 to €70,000 |
368,091 |
207,878 |
4,116,877 |
|
06: €70,000 to €80,000 |
308,739 |
184,017 |
3,990,742 |
|
07: €80,000 to €90,000 |
260,755 |
155,071 |
3,731,264 |
|
08: €90,000 to €100,000 |
268,023 |
160,841 |
4,101,635 |
|
09: €100,000 to €125,000 |
328,516 |
234,717 |
7,543,214 |
|
10: €125,000 to €150,000 |
81,627 |
93,172 |
3,554,747 |
|
11: Over €150,000 |
143,680 |
175,003 |
5,712,670 |
|
2008 |
4,297,647 |
2,532,639 |
61,963,111 |
|
01: €0 to €30,000 |
916,662 |
349,091 |
8,839,557 |
|
02: €30,000 to €40,000 |
729,572 |
394,702 |
7,541,360 |
|
03: €40,000 to €50,000 |
401,760 |
260,852 |
5,457,540 |
|
04: €50,000 to €60,000 |
352,353 |
228,185 |
4,671,479 |
|
05: €60,000 to €70,000 |
356,748 |
210,628 |
4,361,858 |
|
06: €70,000 to €80,000 |
260,980 |
157,287 |
3,420,858 |
|
07: €80,000 to €90,000 |
207,228 |
132,682 |
3,222,050 |
|
08: €90,000 to €100,000 |
304,074 |
169,931 |
4,161,785 |
|
09: €100,000 to €125,000 |
412,588 |
286,825 |
8,861,993 |
|
10: €125,000 to €150,000 |
177,240 |
129,335 |
4,621,568 |
|
11: Over €150,000 |
178,442 |
213,123 |
6,803,063 |
|
2009 |
4,202,322 |
3,501,205 |
57,912,729 |
|
01: €0 to €30,000 |
637,591 |
285,928 |
6,222,808 |
|
02: €30,000 to €40,000 |
738,721 |
501,912 |
7,330,524 |
|
03: €40,000 to €50,000 |
463,975 |
395,108 |
5,843,482 |
|
04: €50,000 to €60,000 |
364,283 |
309,776 |
4,473,565 |
|
05: €60,000 to €70,000 |
390,699 |
302,310 |
4,204,256 |
|
06: €70,000 to €80,000 |
328,010 |
269,115 |
3,582,062 |
|
07: €80,000 to €90,000 |
201,975 |
186,962 |
2,867,231 |
|
08: €90,000 to €100,000 |
175,975 |
163,069 |
2,526,345 |
|
09: €100,000 to €125,000 |
504,394 |
528,269 |
9,561,254 |
|
10: €125,000 to €150,000 |
179,300 |
227,851 |
4,817,777 |
|
11: Over €150,000 |
217,399 |
330,905 |
6,483,424 |
|
2010 |
3,944,151 |
3,618,072 |
53,615,089 |
|
01: €0 to €30,000 |
571,992 |
264,864 |
5,801,386 |
|
02: €30,000 to €40,000 |
816,271 |
564,085 |
7,922,430 |
|
03: €40,000 to €50,000 |
473,768 |
432,136 |
5,459,533 |
|
04: €50,000 to €60,000 |
335,145 |
340,841 |
4,643,184 |
|
05: €60,000 to €70,000 |
390,292 |
311,481 |
3,917,909 |
|
06: €70,000 to €80,000 |
344,946 |
341,580 |
4,330,314 |
|
07: €80,000 to €90,000 |
210,842 |
199,927 |
2,444,865 |
|
08: €90,000 to €100,000 |
245,510 |
270,282 |
3,761,995 |
|
09: €100,000 to €125,000 |
334,312 |
450,229 |
7,562,720 |
|
10: €125,000 to €150,000 |
110,118 |
188,127 |
3,511,767 |
|
11: Over €150,000 |
110,957 |
254,520 |
4,258,985 |
|
2011 |
3,980,071 |
1,623,111 |
50,974,595 |
|
01: €0 to €30,000 |
610,882 |
179,154 |
6,002,339 |
|
02: €30,000 to €40,000 |
782,916 |
258,690 |
7,343,789 |
|
03: €40,000 to €50,000 |
399,859 |
146,442 |
5,054,365 |
|
04: €50,000 to €60,000 |
310,925 |
116,140 |
3,723,045 |
|
05: €60,000 to €70,000 |
380,470 |
142,442 |
3,663,071 |
|
06: €70,000 to €80,000 |
361,334 |
143,498 |
3,874,735 |
|
07: €80,000 to €90,000 |
232,924 |
95,862 |
2,683,945 |
|
08: €90,000 to €100,000 |
230,360 |
111,500 |
3,778,712 |
|
09: €100,000 to €125,000 |
435,389 |
206,256 |
7,154,658 |
|
10: €125,000 to €150,000 |
120,831 |
83,320 |
3,754,434 |
|
11: Over €150,000 |
114,183 |
139,807 |
3,941,502 |
|
2012 |
4,037,762 |
1,587,033 |
48,720,154 |
|
01: €0 to €30,000 |
687,064 |
200,961 |
7,030,994 |
|
02: €30,000 to €40,000 |
771,494 |
252,116 |
6,900,129 |
|
03: €40,000 to €50,000 |
434,682 |
154,747 |
4,876,532 |
|
04: €50,000 to €60,000 |
264,125 |
98,291 |
3,298,430 |
|
05: €60,000 to €70,000 |
254,119 |
93,847 |
2,324,273 |
|
06: €70,000 to €80,000 |
465,813 |
176,262 |
4,664,309 |
|
07: €80,000 to €90,000 |
209,305 |
83,320 |
2,123,074 |
|
08: €90,000 to €100,000 |
266,855 |
116,369 |
3,127,143 |
|
09: €100,000 to €125,000 |
395,370 |
177,339 |
6,566,883 |
|
10: €125,000 to €150,000 |
151,878 |
96,743 |
3,896,993 |
|
11: Over €150,000 |
137,057 |
137,037 |
3,911,393 |
|
2013 |
4,001,077 |
1,759,765 |
48,432,947 |
|
01: €0 to €30,000 |
770,373 |
291,719 |
7,542,726 |
|
02: €30,000 to €40,000 |
741,981 |
296,906 |
7,073,984 |
|
03: €40,000 to €50,000 |
384,720 |
157,023 |
4,477,201 |
|
04: €50,000 to €60,000 |
268,368 |
112,807 |
3,442,032 |
|
05: €60,000 to €70,000 |
306,034 |
124,614 |
2,811,279 |
|
06: €70,000 to €80,000 |
345,847 |
144,852 |
3,814,187 |
|
07: €80,000 to €90,000 |
232,727 |
107,553 |
2,831,451 |
|
08: €90,000 to €100,000 |
290,055 |
128,811 |
3,537,782 |
|
09: €100,000 to €125,000 |
380,898 |
175,651 |
5,780,638 |
|
10: €125,000 to €150,000 |
176,296 |
99,937 |
3,294,809 |
|
11: Over €150,000 |
103,779 |
119,893 |
3,826,858 |
|
2014 |
3,944,258 |
1,705,614 |
46,495,223 |
|
01: €0 to €30,000 |
793,189 |
294,591 |
7,629,160 |
|
02: €30,000 to €40,000 |
743,675 |
295,351 |
6,952,223 |
|
03: €40,000 to €50,000 |
361,779 |
150,238 |
4,359,203 |
|
04: €50,000 to €60,000 |
279,277 |
115,847 |
3,206,808 |
|
05: €60,000 to €70,000 |
290,248 |
121,699 |
2,985,937 |
|
06: €70,000 to €80,000 |
342,172 |
144,430 |
3,637,123 |
|
07: €80,000 to €90,000 |
298,353 |
131,994 |
3,372,831 |
|
08: €90,000 to €100,000 |
277,958 |
124,000 |
3,625,695 |
|
09: €100,000 to €125,000 |
370,851 |
170,675 |
5,568,633 |
|
10: €125,000 to €150,000 |
104,789 |
62,169 |
2,205,176 |
|
11: Over €150,000 |
81,967 |
94,621 |
2,952,436 |
|
2015 |
4,146,900 |
1,766,446 |
48,611,350 |
|
01: €0 to €30,000 |
882,616 |
326,553 |
8,345,962 |
|
02: €30,000 to €40,000 |
778,178 |
310,712 |
7,264,326 |
|
03: €40,000 to €50,000 |
366,280 |
148,266 |
4,564,264 |
|
04: €50,000 to €60,000 |
209,214 |
86,769 |
2,664,397 |
|
05: €60,000 to €70,000 |
367,515 |
151,004 |
3,298,321 |
|
06: €70,000 to €80,000 |
370,975 |
154,413 |
3,624,000 |
|
07: €80,000 to €90,000 |
277,197 |
117,116 |
3,128,197 |
|
08: €90,000 to €100,000 |
208,364 |
94,194 |
2,859,433 |
|
09: €100,000 to €125,000 |
412,798 |
184,352 |
6,441,072 |
|
10: €125,000 to €150,000 |
193,074 |
95,555 |
3,322,668 |
|
11: Over €150,000 |
80,689 |
97,512 |
3,098,709 |
The remuneration of the staff of my Department is as sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in line with Government policy.
140. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if grants will be made available to homeowners that have had to carry out flood defence measures around their homes in areas in which flooding has become a consistent issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39278/16]
View answerThe Interdepartmental Flood Policy Coordination Group that I chair is considering the potential costs and benefits associated with the introduction of an individual property protection scheme. The Group will be informed by two pilot projects which are currently underway in Thomastown and Graiguenamanagh in County Kilkenny and Crossmolina in County Mayo. The Group’s work, when completed, will be submitted to Government for consideration in the context of the merits of the introduction of any such scheme.
The Group recently presented for consideration and agreement by Government an interim report setting out progress on its work and making appropriate recommendations for consideration by Government at this time. The report has been published and is available on the OPW website, www.opw.ie.
141. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to address coastal erosion in Portrane; the steps his Department has taken in conjunction with Fingal County Council following the completion of their risk management study in 2014. [39165/16]
View answerThe management of problems of coastal protection in the area indicated is a matter for Fingal County Council in the first instance. The Council must assess the problem and, if it is considered that specific measures and works are required, it is open to them to apply for funding under the Office of Public Works' (OPW) Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme. Any application received will be assessed under the eligibility criteria, which include a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, and having regard to the overall availability of funding.
Fingal County Council applied for and was approved funding of €57,800 under this scheme in 2012 to carry out a Coastal Erosion Risk Management Study of Portrane to Rush. The funding was drawn down in 2013 following completion of the study.
Following the severe storms of Winter 2013/2014 and on foot of submissions made by the local authority, total funding of €200,000 was provided by the OPW to Fingal County Council under the Government decision S180/20/10/1272 of 11th February 2014 to allocate funding for the repair of damaged coastal protection infrastructure. Part of this funding was for a dunes repair project at Burrow beach, Portrane. This project was not proceeded with by Fingal County Council at the time and the Council indicated that this would form part of a separate application under the Minor Works scheme.
I have been advised that the OPW is not in receipt of any applications currently under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for Portrane.
142. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of staff employed by each Minister and Minister of State, including parliamentary assistants, secretarial assistants, special advisers, press secretaries and other positions, broken down by Minister, in tabular form; the pay rate for each assistant; and the total cost per Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39197/16]
View answerI have set out in tabular form the number of staff employed in my Department in the private and constituency offices of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister of State for Financial Services, eGovernment and Public Procurement at the Departments of Finance and of Public Expenditure and Reform, by Minister, grade, and salary scale.
All appointments have been made in accordance with the "Instructions to Personnel Officers - Ministerial Appointments for the 32nd Dáil" issued in June 2016.
Please note that as Parliamentary Assistant and Secretarial Assistants are paid by the Oireachtas this Department does not have salary information in relation to these staff.
Staffing of my private office & constituency office (Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform)
|
Grade |
Salary Scale |
|
1 Private Secretary* |
€46,081.00 - €58,294.00 |
|
2 Executive Officer private office |
€27,739.00 - €47,975.00 / €38,235.00 - €51,958.00 |
|
2 Clerical Officer private office |
€419.29 - €715.62 pw |
|
1 Special Adviser |
€79,401 €91,624 |
|
1 Press Adviser |
€79,401 €91,624 |
|
2 Civilian Drivers |
€665 pw |
|
1 Parliamentary Assistant |
Unknown |
|
1 Secretarial Assistant |
Unknown |
|
2 Clerical Officer |
€419.29 - €715.62 pw |
|
Total Annual Rate for staffing of my offices (excl. PA and SA grades) |
€481,524.61 |
Staffing of the private office and constituency office of the Minister of State for Financial Services, eGovernment and Public Procurement at the Departments of Finance and of Public Expenditure and Reform. The Minister of State has a dual portfolio that includes responsibility for the Department of Finance.
|
Grade |
Salary Scale |
|
1 Private Secretary* |
€40,734.00 - €57,251.00 |
|
1 Executive Officer private office |
€27,739.00 - €47,975.00 |
|
1 Clerical officer Private Office |
€419.29 - €715.62 pw |
|
1 Special Adviser** |
Under consideration (await Government decision) |
|
1 Parliamentary Assistant |
Unknown |
|
1 Secretarial Assistant |
Unknown |
|
2 Civilian Drivers |
€665 pw |
|
Total Annual Rate for staffing of MOS offices (excl. PA and SA grades) |
€286,656.39
|
*A Private Secretary Allowance is payable to the holder of these posts i.e. €20,685 personal pension contribution rate (ppc) or €19,653 non-personal pension contribution rate (non-ppc) as appropriate
** The appointment of a special adviser is currently under consideration pending Government Decision. Special Advisers to Ministers of State are paid at AP PPC scale level €65,000 €71,758.
143. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the role and responsibilities as laid out in guidelines for the position of special adviser to a Minister and Minister of State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39198/16]
View answer145. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if guidelines exist in relation to the hiring of special advisers by Ministers and Ministers of State; if there is any requirement to advertise the positions; if so, the details of advertisements undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39200/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 145 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, Special Advisers to Ministers and Ministers of State are appointed by the Government at the request of a Minister or Minister of State under section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997 (1997 Act).
The 1997 Act sets out the general functions assigned to Special Advisers. These include "providing advice to the Minister, monitoring, facilitating and securing the achievement of Government objectives that relate to the Department, as requested by the Minister, and performing such other functions as may be directed by the Minister, that are not otherwise provided for in the Act and do not involve the exercise of any specific powers conferred on the Minister, or any other office holder by or under any other Act, and be accountable to the Minister in the performance of those functions".
At the commencement of each Dáil, my Department issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices including the permitted staffing levels in the private and constituency offices of Ministers and Ministers of State, and the level of salaries for Ministerial personal appointees to the positions of Special Adviser, Personal Secretary, Personal Assistant and Civilian Driver and the number of appointees permitted.
Ministers and Ministers of State select their own Special Advisers having regard to the advice and other functions required by the Ministers. It is also important to note, having regard to section 11 of the 1997 Act, that the role of Special Adviser is different from the role of other civil servants.
144. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if any staff employed in the public and Civil Service are seconded to work with a Minister or Minister of State in their constituencies; the number of same; the cost to the State; broken down by Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39199/16]
View answerThere are no staff of the Department of Expenditure and Reform on secondment to work with a Minister or Minister of State in their constituency.
