Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The role of my Department is to support me as Taoiseach, and the Government, to ensure a sustainable economy and a successful society, pursue Ireland's interests abroad, implement the Government's programme and build a better future for Ireland and all of her citizens. In order to ensure my Department remains agile in responding to emerging priorities, its staffing resources are kept under ongoing review. At present, there are 223.8 whole-time equivalent staff employed across the Department. The majority are assigned to the following main divisions of the Department: international, European Union and Northern Ireland division, including the shared island unit; economic division; social policy and public services reform division; protocol and civic policy division; Government secretariat; and corporate affairs division. The remainder are assigned to private offices, constituency offices, the Government information service and internal audit.

The highest-paid civil servant in my Department serves as both Secretary to the Government and as Secretary General at the Department of the Taoiseach. He is paid at the Secretary General 1 level and his current salary is €215,998. Civil Service salary scales apply to staff employed in my Department as set out in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's most recent pay circular published on www.gov.ie. The circular sets out all the pay scales for Civil Service staff, ranging from cleaner to Secretary General level.

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