Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2012
268 Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the salaries and allowances paid to his private secretary and to the Secretary General of his Department; if he has given any consideration to reductions in salaries or allowances for private secretaries since the Government came to office, or if any have been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5033/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the reduced pay rates introduced by myself in June 2011 for senior positions in the public service, the annual salary of the Secretary General of my Department is €200,000, no allowances are payable to any Secretary General. The position of private secretary to the Minister is currently staffed in my Department by a civil servant at Administrative Officer level who receives an allowance of €20,685 per annum in respect of the extra duties and responsibilities attaching to the post including extra attendance outside normal hours.
The allowance for private secretaries to Ministers was reduced by 5% on 1 January 2010 under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009. In December last, I announced that all Departments will have to achieve a reduction of 5% in the cost of allowances and premium payments in 2012. In this regard all allowances in the public service, including the allowance payable to private secretaries to Ministers, are currently subject to a review led by my Department.
