Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 6 together.

There are 11 staff working in my private office. Eight of these staff are civil servants, two are my personal assistants and one is my personal secretary.

There are five staff working in my constituency office. Three are based in Government Buildings, one of whom is a civil servant, while two are based in Castlebar.

There are three staff working in the Chief Whip's constituency office, one of whom is a civil servant based in Dublin, while the other two are based in Enniscorthy.

The staff working in the constituency office of the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, which is based in my Department, are paid for by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The staff consist of one personal secretary and two clerical officers.

The cost of supporting constituency offices for my Department during the first 100 days following my appointment is approximately €134,000. This comprises salary costs of €122,884, postal and telecommunications costs of €1,544, office equipment and supplies costing €8,320 and travel and subsistence costs of approximately €1,000.

In comparison with the last Administration and its 2009 figures, there are now seven fewer staff working in the private offices and constituency offices of my Department. This also represents a 26.7% reduction in costs.

The staff of my private office, which includes civil servants and personal assistants, provide ongoing administrative support to me across the whole range of my functions. The five staff in my constituency office are responsible for dealing with any constituency matters and correspondence.

The following table provides details of the numbers employed and salary levels in my private and constituency offices

Note: Some of the civil servants working in my private office receive allowances in addition to their basic salaries in accordance with normal Civil Service rules.

See this speech in context