Trevor Sargent
Ceist:22 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach the number of civil servants in his Department seconded from other Departments; the cost of the shift allowance paid by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4437/99]
Written Answers. - Departmental Staff.
There are 19 staff working in my Department on secondment from other Government Departments. Details of the work they are doing at my Department and the names of their parent Departments are included in the schedule which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.
Only five of those 19 people are in receipt of a shift allowance. The current annual cost of the shift allowance, which is equivalent to one-sixth of their salary, is £14,868.69. These officers are based in the communications unit which is operational 18 hours a day and this, understandably, necessitates the operation of a flexible rota of three different work shifts: 6.00 a.m. to 2.30 p.m., 10.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. and 4.00 p.m. to 12 midnight.
SCHEDULE
19 Officers on Secondment to the Department of the Taoiseach from other Government Departments
Two officers are working as part of my Department's strategic management initiative team (on secondment from the Civil Service Commission and the Central Statistics Office);
One is working on Agenda 2000 matters in the European and international affairs division (on secondment from the Department of Foreign Affairs);
One is working as an usher (on secondment from the Houses of the Oireachtas);
One is working as millennium projects development officer (on secondment from the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation);
One is based in the finance unit on a job-sharing basis (on secondment from the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation);
One is working in the office of the Government press secretary (on secondment from the Department of Finance);
Five are serving in the communications unit (one each from the following Departments: Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Justice, Equality and Law Reform; Central Statistics Office; Public Enterprise; and Finance)
The following members of my personal staff are on secondment for the lifetime of the current Government:
My private secretary (on secondment from Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment);
The Government press secretary (on secondment from the Department of Finance);
The administrator of my constituency office (on secondment from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment); and
Four persons appointed as personal assistants (one each from the following Departments: Justice, Equality and Law Reform; Agriculture and Food; Finance; and Social, Community and Family Affairs).