Ministerial Staff

Tuesday, 4 October 2011

Ceisteanna (451)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

473 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total cost of all staff, permanent and non-established, allocated to assist him with constituency work in the 100 days following his appointment. [27348/11]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter)

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question Numbers 653 to 655, inclusive, on 14 September 2011, which set out, inter alia, the staffing position in my Constituency Office. The position has not changed.

Questions Nos. 653 to 655, inclusive, and reply from 14 September 2011.

653.Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons employed in each of the private offices and the constituency offices of his Ministers of State; the annual amount paid in respect of salaries to each office for 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23456/11]

654.Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of special advisors and programme managers in his Department; the annual amount paid in respect of salaries in regard to each such office for each of the years 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23457/11]

655.Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons employed in his private offices and constituency offices; the annual amount paid in respect of salaries in regard to each such office for 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011 in tabular format; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23458/11]

Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 653, 654 and 655 together.

During the periods in question, three Ministers have held office in my Department. As the Deputy is no doubt aware, this Government reduced the number of staff in a Minister's Private and Constituency Offices from 16 to 12. In the case of Ministers of State, staffing numbers were reduced from 12 to 8. The current staffing of my Private and Constituency offices, and their salary ranges, is as follows:

Private Office	Salary (as of September 2011)
1 Private Secretary	€43,816 — €55,415 + appropriate Private Secretary allowance
3 Executive Officers	€30,516 — €47,975
2 Clerical Officers	€23,177 — €37,341
2 Special Advisors	€80,051 — €92,672
Constituency Office
1.6 Clerical Officers	€23,177 — €37,341
1 Personal Assistant	€43,715 — €56,060
1 Personal Secretary	€23,820 — €47,755

My predecessor, Mr Brendan Smith, did not appoint a Special Advisor, Personal Assistant or Personal Secretary in this Department. The staff of his Private and Constituency offices, with the exception of these posts, remained as those in place for his predecessor, Mr Dermot Ahern, as set out below.

Private Office	Salary (as of January 2011)
1 Private Secretary	€33,247 — €58,294 + appropriate Private Secretary allowance
3 Executive Officers	€30,516 — €47,975
3 Clerical Officers	€23,177 — €37,341
1 Special Advisor and 1 Special Advisor/Programme Manager	€80,051 — €98,424
Constituency Office
4 Clerical Officers	€23,042 — €37,341
1 Personal Assistant	€43,816 — €55,415
1 Personal Secretary	€29,024 — €47,379

During the periods in question, 5 Ministers of State have held office in my Department. However, with the exception of Minister of State, Ms Kathleen Lynch T.D. and Mr Conor Lenihan, their offices were staffed in their entirety by other Departments.

Minister of State Lynch's Private Office includes one Executive Officer (salary range €30,516 — €47,975) from my Department.

The staffing of the Private and Constituency offices of Mr Conor Lenihan when he ceased office in this Department in April 2009 and the salary ranges of the staff concerned, is as follows:

Private Office	Salary (as of April 2009)
1 Private Secretary	€49,379 — €61,082 + appropriate Private Secretary allowance
1 Executive Officer	€32,179 — €51,054
2 Clerical Officers	€24,397 — €39,558
Constituency Office
1 Executive Officer	€30,566 — €48,504
2 Clerical Officers	€24,397 — €39,558
1 Personal Secretary	€46,558 — €59,097
1 Personal Assistant	€23,181 — €44,726