Ministerial Appointments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 April 2011

Tuesday, 12 April 2011

Ceisteanna (249)

Jerry Buttimer

Ceist:

267 Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of special advisers appointed in his Department between June 1997 and February 2011; the cost of each special adviser appointed to his office between June 1997 and February 2011; the gender ratio surrounding these appointments between June 1997 and February 2011; the number of appointments to State boards made during the period June 1997 and February 2011; and the gender ratio of appointments made to State boards during the period June 1997 and February 2011. [7421/11]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

During the period between June 1997 and February 2011, a total of 13 special advisors were appointed in my Department at a cost of some €3.17m as follows:—

Name	Role	Cost
		€
Jimmy Fegan	Special Adviser	394,642.14
Caroline Callaghan	Communications Co-ordinator	168,238.19
Paul McMahon	Press Adviser	98,009.56
Sara Morris	Press Adviser	5,693.41
Pat Daly	Special Adviser	178,405.34
Dan Pender	Press Officer	181,806.09
David Grant	Special Adviser	174,004.52
Stephen Kearon	Special Adviser	27,030.36
Sean Fitzpatrick	Press Officer	245,231.11
Ryan Meade	Special Adviser	343,948.33
David Healy	Special Adviser	339,422.96
Donal Geoghegan	Special Adviser	612,224.71
Liam Reid	Press Adviser	405,685.44
		3,174, 342.16

The gender ratio of these appointments was approximately 5:1 male to female, exactly 11 male and two female.

During the same period a total of 970 appointments were made to State Boards with a gender ratio of almost 2:1 male to female, exactly 649 male and 321 female.