I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 148 together.
There are five Special Advisers employed by my Department, four of whom are my Special Advisers and one of whom is Special Adviser to the Government Chief Whip. The details requested in relation to their salaries is set out in the table below.
Name
|
Position
|
Current Salary
|
Mark Kennelly
|
Chief of Staff
|
€168,000
|
Andrew McDowell
|
Special Adviser
|
€168,000
|
Paul O’Brien
|
Special Adviser
|
€86,604
|
Angela Flanagan
|
Special Adviser
|
€86,604
|
Mark O’Doherty
|
Special Adviser to the Chief Whip
|
€86,604
|
Mr. O'Brien, Ms. Flanagan and Mr. O'Doherty are on contracts which include incremental progression in line with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines on remuneration for Special Advisers. The salary cost for special advisors employed in my Department in 2012 was €581,236. The comparative full year figure for Special Advisors employed in this Department in 2010 was €1,072,920.