Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 20 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 6

Written Answers - Departmental Appointments.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

24 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the persons appointed by her, or by the Minister of State at her Department, as programme managers, advisers, assistants or back-up staff, either in her Department or in constituency offices; the annualised remuneration paid to these staff; the names of individuals, groups or companies which have undertaken or have been approved to undertake full-time, part- time or casual consultancies, reviews, examinations or analyses or public relations service on her behalf or on behalf of the Minister of State at her Department; the actual and estimated cost for 2002 in this regard; the persons, companies, consultants or otherwise she or the Minister of State at her Department have appointed to carry out work on behalf of semi-State bodies under the aegis of her Department; the reviews, consultancies or reports which she or the Minister of State at her Department have commissioned or are due to commission; and the full costs in respect of all those matters to her Department. [4864/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan):

For the purpose of this reply, programme managers, advisers, assistants or back-up staff are taken to refer to non-established civil servants.

When I took up office, I retained the services of one special adviser appointed by my predecessor. Mr. Mel Cousins is employed on a contract basis for my term of office. The annual salary for this position is €77,040.16 which is the maximum point of the principal officer, higher, scale. I have appointed on a contract basis for my term of office a press adviser, Mr. Tom Reddy, since 31 July 2002. The annual salary for this position is €71,812.94 which is the maximum point of the principal officer, standard, scale.

In my constituency office there are three non-established civil servants; personal assistant, personal secretary and a clerical officer. The annual salary of my personal assistant is €34,884. My personal secretary is currently paid €20,775 per annum. The clerical officer position is currently paid at €327.71 per week.

A Minister of State has not been appointed at this Department. The detailed information requested by the Deputy in relation to consultancy outgoings by my Department is currently being compiled. A letter enclosing the information requested will issue to the Deputy in the near future.

Question No. 25 answered with Question No. 10.