Bertie Ahern
Ceist:66 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number and cost of special political advisers and programme managers from outside the permanent public service appointed at his Department. [10246/95]
Written Answers. - Government Advisers and Programme Managers.
I have one special adviser in the Department of Foreign Affairs.
I have a programme manager, a special adviser and a special adviser to advise on legal issues, in the Office of the Tánaiste.
I have made no new appointments to the positions of special adviser or programme manager since the matter was raised in the Dáil, on 24 January 1995. The staff sanctioned by the previous Minister for Finance have been reappointed and their tasks and salaries, allowing for Programme for Competitiveness and Work increases remain unchanged.
The Minister of State, Deputy Joan Burton, who is also Minister of State at the Department of Justice, is currently appointing a special adviser in the Department of Foreign Affairs at an expected annual cost of £38,272 including PRSI.