Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 June 2010
42 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Transport the number of advisers in his Department; the number of high level appointees to committees annually since 2007; the amount each receives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26678/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently eight advisors in my Department. Three advisors support myself and the Minister of State, namely a Special Adviser for the Minister, in receipt of a salary of €99,236; a Press Adviser, in receipt of €89,898 in salary and a Special Adviser for the Minister of State, in receipt of a salary of €96,295. I have employed a Press Advisor on a temporary basis whilst the current advisor is on maternity leave.
In addition, my Department employs 5 specialist advisers, two of whom transferred from the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the transfer of the non-national roads function to my Department. These advisers are
A Financial Adviser on temporary secondment from PriceWaterhouseCoopers;
One Legal Advisery Counsel, on secondment from the Attorney General's office and employed on a pay scale from €71,359 to €90,988;
A Principal Engineering Adviser employed on a pay scale from €93,197 to €110,665;
A Senior Engineering Adviser on a pay scale from €82,964 to €103,472, and
A Sustainability Adviser on a pay scale from €65,185 to €80,678.
The pay scales I have outlined are as determined by the Department of Finance with the exception of the financial adviser, which is determined by PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
I have made two high level appointments to committees since 2007:
Ms Julie O'Neill was appointed as Chairperson to the High Level Steering Group on the proposed NRA/RPA Merger in May 2010 at a fee of €9,950 for 16 days work plus a further €622 per diem rate payable for a maximum of 3 further days; and
Mr. John Malone was appointed in December 2008 to chair an Implementation Team for an integrated single Transport Accident Investigation Office and is in receipt of an annual fee of €8,978.
In both cases, the payments were sanctioned by the Department of Finance.
