Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

The Government also decided to cut down on the costs of special advisers close to Ministers. It succeeded in reducing the cost by about 23% when compared to the previous Government regime. Special advisers in this Government are on a lower pay scale when compared to the previous Government rates and the practice of paying attraction allowances has been abolished. The biggest reduction in pay is in the Taoiseach's Office. Two years ago, the previous Taoiseach employed seven special advisers at a cost of almost €1.1 million. The present Taoiseach appointed only four special advisers, with one for the Chief Whip's Office, with a total pay of €576,000-----