Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 1 Oct 1997

Vol. 480 No. 7

Written Answers. - Ministerial Appointments.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

68 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the appointments made by him through his personal office since being appointed, including programme managers, advisers, special advisers, constituency personnel and all appointments other than Civil Service appointments; the salary being paid per annum in each case; and if he will give the same information in relation to Ministers of State at his Department. [15117/97]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

The information requested by the Deputy in respect of appointments made by me and by the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne is as follows:

Minister's Office

Position	Annual Salary
	£
Special Adviser	£ 36,757
Personal Secretary	£ 19,265(*)	Dáil Secretary on temporary secondment from the Oireachtas
Total	56,022

(*) The net additional charge to the Exchequer = £1,751 per annum.

Minister of State's Office

Position	Annual Salary
	£
Personal Secretary	16,682.73 (**)
		Dáil Secretary on temporary secondment from the Oireachtas
Civilian Driver × 2	27,961.16
Total	44,643.89

(**) The net additional charge to the Exchequer = £1,517 per annum.

Neither myself nor the Minister of State have appointed personal assistants to date.

The ministerial staffing complement outlined above contrasts with that engaged by the previous administration, which was as follows:

Minister's Office (Mr. Barrett)

Position	Annual Salary
	£
Programme Manager	50,988
Special Adviser	27,177
Personal Assistant	18,115
Personal Secretary	13,066
Total	109,346

The costs of these staff were shared equally between the former Department of the Marine and the Department of Defence Votes, reflecting the dual ministerial portfolios.

Minister of State's Office (Mr. Gilmore)

Position	Annual Salary
	£
Special Adviser	39,752
Personal Assistant	26,068
Personal Secretary	18,110
Civilian Driver (× 2)	27,440
Total	111,370

The present Government, with a view to minimising additional Exchequer costs, have placed greater emphasis on the use of the existing expertise which is readily available from within the Civil Service and our respective Government Departments. This is reflected in the numbers employed in both ministerial offices in the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources.