Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I may ask him to tot it for me. I have a list of costs but not the total. I have published the schedule before.

The advisers work closely with individual Departments. When we changed the system a decade ago I assigned them to individual Departments, so normally their work entails liaising with ministerial advisers in the Departments. I meet them on a weekly basis, depending on what issues are relevant. I may confer with them on a daily basis on Northern Ireland issues or on European business in the week before a European meeting. They also attend Cabinet committees, which are either weekly or monthly. I meet with them collectively once or twice a week. I try to keep them linked to Departments because it makes more sense.

There are two programme managers, one for my Department and one for the Tánaiste. They hold seniority and the programme manager in my Department chairs the weekly meeting of programme managers from the other Departments, as well as having responsibility for a number of Departments himself.

Does that cover the Deputy's questions?

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