Ministerial Advisers

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020

Tuesday, 8 September 2020

Questions (1498)

Alan Kelly

Question:

1498. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands the number of special advisers that will be hired by her Department. [22786/20]

Written answers

Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands

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 appointment of Special Advisers is subject to section 11 of the Public Service Management (PSMA) Act 1997.

The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil, which incorporate the principles of section 11 of the PSMA Act, have recently been issued.

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, I have assigned two Special Advisers to my Department, a Special Adviser on policy, and a Press Adviser.