Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 May 2006
236 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of people who are working in the offices of the Minister with responsibility for Children; the number who are assigned to the Minister’s private office; the number to his constituency office; the numbers of advisers and political appointments to the Minister’s office; the salaries and fees paid to such employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19618/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of the Minister for Children is an integral part of the Department of Health and Children and comprises the following:
•The Childcare Directorate (transferred from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform), which has responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme — EOCP and the new National Childcare Investment Programme. The Childcare Directorate has an agreed complement of 21.8 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) civil servants.
•The Child Welfare and Protection Policy Unit, which has responsibility for policy and legislative work on Child Welfare and Protection has an agreed complement of 17.1 WTE civil servants.
•The National Children's Strategy Unit, which has responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the National Children's Strategy has an agreed complement of 16.8 WTE civil servants (which includes 3 staff on secondment from the Departments of Education and Science, Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Social & Family Affairs), 2 staff on Contract and 1 on Secondment. Salary costs excluding employer's PRSI and pension contributions in respect of the three sections above amount to €2,922,724 per annum.
•The Minister's Private Office has 1 Private Secretary, 4 other civil servants, 1 Special Advisor and 2 Civilian Drivers who are attached to the Department of Health and Children. He also has 1 Private Secretary based in the Department of Education and Science. Salary costs excluding employer's PRSI and pension contributions amount to €408,038 per annum.
•The Minister's Constituency Office has an agreed complement of 2.8 civil servants, 1 Personal Assistant and 1 Personal Secretary. Salary costs excluding employer's PRSI and pension contributions amount to €194,652 per annum.
