On the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues Guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil are currently awaiting Government approval.
It should be noted that the appointment of individual Special Advisers is a matter for each Government Minister subject to the terms set out in the aforementioned Guidelines, although the appointments are also subject to formal Government approval. At this stage, no Special Advisers have been formally appointed to my Department by the Government and no civil servants have been seconded as Special Advisers to my private office.
However, the Deputy may wish to note that I have to date assigned one person to work with me as Special Adviser on policy matters and I will be nominating that person to be formally appointed by the Government in due course.