On the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues Guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil are currently awaiting Government approval.
It should be noted that the appointment of individual Special Advisers is a matter for each Government Minister subject to the terms set out in the aforementioned Guidelines, although the appointments are also subject to formal Government approval. At this stage, no Special Advisers have been formally appointed to my Department by the Government. However, the Deputy may wish to note that I have to date assigned one person to work with me as Special Adviser and I will be nominating that person to Government for formal approval in due course.
The annual allowance payable to the office holder of Minister and Minister of State at the Department is €79,510 and €38,787 respectively. Full details of ministerial salaries/allowances are published on the Houses of the Oireachtas website.