Vol. 531 No. 2
147 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of non-established civil servants employed by him in his office; the number within his Department; the salary scale, conditions, terms of employment and function in each case; the names of the persons or firms so employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5330/01]
For the purposes of this reply, non-established civil servants are taken to refer to advisers, personal assistants and personal
secretaries attached to my ministerial office.
In my office there are three non-established civil servants employed, Mr. Mel Cousins, special adviser, Ms Myra Wall, personal secretary and Ms Chris Maguire, personal assistant. The annual salary for the special adviser of £54,215 is the maximum point of the principal, higher, scale. My personal secretary is paid on the executive officer, higher, scale and is currently on the maximum point which is £25,820. My personal assistant is currently paid £25,978 per annum which is the fourth point of the higher executive officer, standard, scale.
I did not appoint a programme manager, unlike my predecessors in the rainbow coalition, which means a cost saving to the Exchequer in respect of a salary of about £46,000 per annum, quite apart from the attendant ancillary costs. Nor is there a five person policy unit in existence, something which was present prior to my coming into office and which was there to service my predecessor, at a salary cost saving of about £95,000, quite apart from the attendant ancillary costs.
The terms and conditions of employment of these three staff are as laid down by the Department of Finance and are in accordance with the usual conditions relating to temporary, unestablished appointments. All three appointments will terminate not later than the date on which I cease to hold office. The function of the three staff is to assist me in the discharge of my responsibilities as a public representative and as a holder of a Government office in a Department of State with responsibility for the delivery of services in the social welfare, community and family area.
