Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if, in respect of the category of ministerial staff, including those attached to Ministers of State in his Department who are not civil servants but are contracted by him as personal assistant, political adviser, programme manager and press communications advisers, the name of the person; their function; if full-time or part-time employed; the terms of the contract; the level of remuneration, either by hour if part-time or as an annual salary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12362/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Since I took up office, I have appointed on a contract basis for my term of office four non-established civil servants, a special adviser, Mr. Frank Lahiffe, a press adviser, Mr. Tom Rowley, a personal secretary, Ms Mary Browne, and a personal assistant, Mr. Bobby Holland. All four appointees are employed full-time.

The salaries for these staff are as follows: special adviser, €83,707 — principal officer standard scale; press adviser, €89,801 — principal officer higher scale; and personal secretary, €37,621. My personal assistant is on secondment from the Department of Education and Science. That Department will recoup from my Department on an annual basis the cost of a replacement teacher's salary, allowances, PRSI contributions and superannuation contributions. This will be in the region of €31,800.

The duties carried out by the advisers — special adviser and press adviser — attached to my Department are as set out in section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997, that is, to assist the Minister by providing advice on a wide range of issues, by monitoring, facilitating and securing the achievement of Government objectives that relate to my Department and by performing such other functions as may be directed by me.

The roles of my personal secretary and personal assistant are to provide administrative support and back-up in my capacity as a Deputy and in my constituency office.

The terms of contract for the above positions are as determined by the Department of Finance and are subject to the Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956 to 1996 and any other Act for the time being in force relating to the Civil Service.

A Minister of State has not been appointed to my Department.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 247: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if, in respect of each person in the employment of the ministerial office, including that of Ministers of State attached to his Department, as either personal assistant, political adviser, programme manager and press communications adviser, the cost of travel and maintenance expenses incurred individually by each person by name for the calendar year 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12377/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Since I took up office, I have appointed on a contract basis for my term of office a special adviser, Mr. Frank Lahiffe, a press adviser, Mr. Tom Rowley, a personal secretary and a personal assistant. During 2004, the travel and subsistence costs of my special adviser and my press adviser were €1,378.77 and €150.00 respectively. There were no travel and subsistence costs in respect of my personal secretary or my personal assistant.

From 1 January 2004 until 29 September 2004 there were travel and subsistence costs paid to three ministerial staff appointed by my predecessor, Deputy Mary Coughlan. Ms Helen Faughnan, special adviser, was paid €2,309.98. Mr. Tom Reddy, press adviser, and Ms Kathleen Ayres, personal assistant, were paid €3,212.86 and €4.38 respectively.

A Minister of State was not appointed to the Department for the period in question.