Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 26 Mar 1996

Vol. 463 No. 3

Written Answers. - Persons Employed in Constituency and Private Offices.

Dermot Ahern

Ceist:

130 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Health the number of persons employed in the constituency office and the private office by him and the Minister(s) of State at his Department; the rank of each person; their salaries; the functions of the constituency office and the private office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6444/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The following are the details requested by the Deputy:

Minister Noonan's Private Office

Number	Title	Annual Salaries
		£
1	Programme Manager	43,752
1	Private Secretary(Higher Executive Officer)	29,127
1	Executive Officer	14,931
1	Staff Officer	15,877
1	Clerical Officer	14,640
1	Clerical Assistant	9,766
1	Clerical Assistant-Typist	10,980

Minister Noonan's Constituency Office

Number	Title	Annual Salaries
		£
1	Special Adviser	34,111
1	Personal Secretary	14,630
1	Executive Officer	14,931
2	Clerical Assistant	18,090
2	Clerical Assistant-Typist	20,678
1	Personal Assistant	22,703

Minister O'Shea's Private Office

Number	Title	Annual Salaries
		£
1	Special Adviser	28,238
1	Private Secretary(Higher Executive Officer)	28,394
2	Executive Officer	34,789
1	Clerical Officer (2 jobsharers)	13,743
1	Clerical Assistant	11,202
2	Clerical Assistant-Typist	25,692
2	Driver	26,370

Minister O'Shea's Constituency Office

Number	Title	Annual Salaries
		£
1	Personal Assistant	10,000
1	Personal Secretary	14,304

Minister Currie's Private Office

Number	Title	Annual Salaries
		£
1	Special Adviser	28,953
1	Private Secretary(Higher Executive Officer)	29,127
1	Executive Officer	14,931
1	Staff Officer	16,342
1	Clerical Assistant-Typist	10,120
2	Driver	26,370

Minister Currie's Constituency Office

Number	Title	Annual Salaries
		£
1	Personal Secretary (2 job-sharers)	14,170
1	Clerical Officer	12,752
1	Clerical Assistant-Typist	10,094
1	Personal Assistant	18,772

The functions of the offices of the Minister and Ministers of State are as follows:

—To deal with all correspondence relating to the Minister's departmental responsibilities.

—To co-ordinate the Ministers' appointments and official functions including parliamentary business, visits to health service premises, travel arrangements etc., and to ensure that briefing material-speeches are provided as required.

—To liaise between the Minister and his Department; other Ministers and Members of the Oireachtas and members of the public and to respond to queries, telephone calls etc., from the above.

The functions of the constituency offices of the Minister and Ministers of State are as follows:

—The Minister's constituency office serves as a formal link between the Minister and his constituents. It provides constituents with a point of contact with the Minister while at the same time allowing the Minister to concentrate on his Department portfolio.

—The main functions of the office include liaising on behalf of the constituents with various State and semi-State agencies, county councils, corporations and Government Departments. The office also handles queries and requests which are made to the Minister by his constituents, in respect of both personal and community issues.

Minister of State O'Shea has integrated the functions of his private office and constituency offices.