Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 505: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons employed in her Department's press office; the title, role, grade and salary of each person employed in the press office; and the persons with whom they are required to deal. [4697/04]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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There are three staff in the Department's press office. They include the press officer who is a higher executive officer on a payscale of €37,520 to €47,606, the deputy press officer who is an executive officer with a payscale of €26,006 to €41,143 and one staff officer, who is in charge of administration, on a payscale of €28,250 to €37,599.

I have also appointed on a contract basis for my term of office a press adviser, with effect from 31 July, 2002. In 2003, the total salary cost including pension contribution and employer's PRSI for this position amounted to €93,661.27.

The function of the press office is to provide a press service to the Minister and the Department and to provide an effective channel of communication between the Minister, the Department and the media. The role of the staff in the press office is to carry out these functions.