Departmental Staff Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2017

Monday, 11 September 2017

Questions (1502)

Brendan Howlin

Question:

1502. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of political staff employed in his Department, including parliamentary assistants, secretarial assistants, special advisers, drivers and other relevant positions; the number of civil or public service staff seconded to work in his Department or constituency offices; the salaries and job titles of each such person; the duty or role of each, in each of the years 2015 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36961/17]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of political staff employed in my Department in each of the years 2015 to 2016 and to date in 2017 is as outlined in the following table. Please note that my Department had both a Minister and Minister of State for each of the years in question.

The Deputy should also note that with effect from the 31st March 2016, on the instructions of the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, responsibility for Personal Assistants and Personal Secretaries was transferred to the Oireachtas.

Year	Job Title	Duty	Salary
2015	Personal Assistant x 2	Provide a role assigned by the Minister	€43,715 to €56,060
	Personal Secretary x 2	Provide a role assigned by the Minister	€456.50 to €915.20 per week
	Special Adviser x 2	Advise the Minister regarding political and departmental issues	€79,401 to €91,624 (one pro bono)
	Press Adviser x 1	Advise the Minister regarding political and departmental press issues	€79,401 to €91,624
	Civilian Driver x 4	Driving duties for the Minister	€34,700
Year	Job Title	Duty	Salary
2016	Personal Assistant x 2	Provide a role assigned by the Minister	€43,715 to €56,060
	Personal Secretary x 2	Provide a role assigned by the Minister	€456.50 to €915.20 per week
	Special Adviser x 1	Advise the Minister regarding political and departmental issues	€79,401 to €91,624
	Press Adviser x 1	Advise the Minister regarding political and departmental press issues	€79,401 to €91,624
	Civilian Driver x 3	Driving duties for the Minister	€34,700
	Seconded Public Servant x 1	Provide clerical assistance in Constituency office	€26,756 to €43,889
Year	Job Title	Duty	Salary
2017	Special Adviser x 1	Advise the Minister regarding political and departmental issues	€81,767 to €94,624
	Press Adviser x 1	Advise the Minister regarding political and departmental press issues	€81,767 to €94,624
	Civilian Driver x 3 (1 post covered by 2 work sharers)	Driving duties for the Minister	€35,700
	Clerical x 1 (1 post covered by 2 work sharers)	Provide clerical assistance in Constituency office	€438.46 to €734.79 per week