Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 9, inclusive, together. The role of my Department is to support my work as Taoiseach and to co-ordinate the work of the Government and Cabinet. My Department is structured around seven main work areas. The breakdown of staff currently assigned to each of these areas is as follows: 25 staff assigned to the international, EU and Northern Ireland division; 24 staff assigned to the economic division; 24 staff assigned to the Government secretariat, protocol division and the parliamentary liaison unit;12 staff assigned to the social policy and public service reform division; 11 staff assigned to the strategic communications unit; 28 staff assigned to the corporate affairs division; and eight staff assigned to the information and records management unit. The remainder of staff in my Department include services staff and those aligned to private offices, constituency offices, the Government press office and internal audit.

With the exception of politically appointed staff such as special advisers, all staff assignments, appointments and recruitment in my Department are the responsibility of the Secretary General. While there are currently no plans to change the structure of my Department, the Department’s staffing needs are reviewed on an ongoing basis.

There are currently 19 politically appointed staff employed by my Department. Politically appointed staff employed by my Department include special advisers; personal assistants; civilian drivers to Independent Ministers and Ministers of State; the deputy Government press secretary; the assistant Government press secretary; the chief strategist for the Independent Alliance and the political co-ordinator for the Independent Ministers in Government.

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