Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 February 2019
689. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of advisers and special advisers employed by his Department in 2017 and 2018 and to date in 2019; the areas of expertise covered by such advisers; the annual salaries associated with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6577/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department was established on 19 July 2017. Since then, there have been three advisers employed by my Department, details of which are outlined below:
1. Press Adviser:
A Press Adviser was appointed on 14 August 2017. The main responsibilities of this post include the following:
- Provision and oversight of press information and liaising on my behalf (working with the Department’s Press Officer and Press Office staff);
- Liaising, on my behalf, with the Government Press Office (working with the Department’s Press Officer and Press Office staff), and with Department Officials on media aspects of policy;
- Adviser on external communications and publicity on my behalf;
- Focal point, along with my Policy Adviser, for political clearance and transmission of speaking and briefing material for all “Order of Business” purposes and circulation of such material to me and more widely as appropriate;
Liaising with a team of Media Advisers across Government;
- Clearance of all Ministerial speeches and news releases.
This salary for this post is at the level of the Principal Officer Standard pay scale, sanctioned at €89,356. The Press Adviser continued employment with my Department throughout 2018 and is currently employed in this role.
2. Special Adviser
A Special Adviser was appointed on 11 September 2017 who remained in the employment of my Department until 31st May 2018, when his secondment period ended. This salary for this post is at the level of the Principal Officer Standard pay scale, sanctioned at €94,521.
This Special Adviser was replaced by a new appointee on 11th June 2018, who is still employed by my Department. This Adviser is employed at the level of the Principal Officer Standard pay scale, sanctioned at €99,375.
The main responsibilities of the Special Adviser post include the following:
- Assisting in the management of my programme of work;
- Liaising, on my behalf, with relevant Department Units in relation to the Department/Government priorities and timelines for dealing with the stated policies and priorities;
- Attendance at weekly pre-Government meeting of Ministerial Special Advisers;
- Liaising with a team of Advisers across Government;
- Attendance at relevant Senior Official and Cabinet Committee meetings;
- Focal point, along with my Press Adviser, for political clearance and transmission of speaking and briefing material for all “Order of Business” purposes and circulation of such material to me and more widely as appropriate;
- Liaising with the Secretary General’s Office in regard to the provision of observations on Government Memoranda.
In addition to the Advisers employed by my Department I also avail of the services of a further Adviser, who provides me with support and advice from time to time in an unpaid capacity from 2017 to date.
