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Ministerial Advisers

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020

Tuesday, 8 September 2020

Ceisteanna (825)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

825. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration if he will provide a schedule of advisers, special advisers and seconded civil servants working in his Department appointed and or recruited and or in an acting capacity; the roles and responsibilities attributed to each; and the salary scale for each role in tabular form. [22522/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

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 Advisers is subject to section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil, which incorporate the principles of section 11 of the PMSA Act were approved by Government and published in August and are available on the Government of Ireland website.

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. The aforementioned Guidelines detail a number of steps involved in this process which can commence following the publication of an Order, which is currently being drafted, under section 6 (1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1939 for the Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister.

The Deputy may wish to note that I have identified two individuals to work with me as Special Advisers and that they will be formally appointed by the Government in due course.

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform must be notified of the rate of salary to be paid in all cases for Special Advisers. These rates will then be published on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

With regard to staff seconded to my Department, the following table provides the required information. The Civil Service Salary Scales are available on the Gov.ie website.

Grade

Area of work

Assistant Principal (8)

Early Years x2

Research & Evaluation x 1

Legal Unit x 2

External HR x 1

Historic Burials x 1

Finance x 1

Administrative Officer (1)

Research & Evaluation

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