Alan Kelly
Ceist:1479. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of special advisers that will be hired by his Department. [22771/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 8 September 2020
Ceisteanna (1479)
Freagraí scríofa
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 appointment of Special Advisors is subject to section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997.
The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil were issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to my Department in August 2020.
The appointment of individual Special Advisors 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 Advisors have been formally appointed to my Department by the Government.