Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 432: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of political appointees and non established civil servants appointed to her Department since June 2002; the nature of the post to which each such person is appointed; the annual cost in terms of salaries or expenses in respect of each such post for each year since 2002; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26993/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Between June 2002 and September 2004 the following political appointees and non-established civil servants were appointed to the Office of the Minister for Education and Science:

1 Special Adviser

1 Press Officer

1 Personal Assistant

1 Personal Secretary.

Since September 2004 the following political appointees and non-established civil servants were appointed to my Office:

1 Special Adviser

1 Personal Assistant

1 Personal Secretary (September 2004-April 2005)

1 Personal Secretary (April 2005 to date).

In relation to Minister of State Síle de Valera, one Personal Assistant was attached to her office from June 2002 to February 2003, and a second from April to June 2003. A Personal Secretary was attached to her office from July 2002-April 2004, and a second from April 2004 onwards. The costs for Personal Secretary include costs of a temporary replacement for maternity leave. The costs associated with these staff are as follows:

2002 €139,835.65

2003 €213,498.59

2004 €221,484.39

2005 €189,309.15

2006 to date €99,109.57.

The Deputy should note that the number of political appointments made by me to my staff is three, compared to five appointments made by the Minister for Education 1992-1997. In addition, neither of the Ministers of State in my Department have Special Advisers in contrast with the arrangements under the Rainbow Government, whereby the Minister of State 1995-1997 had a Special Adviser.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 433: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of staff broken down by grade employed within the private office and the constituency office; the number of such staff who are permanent civil servants; the number who are political appointees; the annual cost of each such office in terms of salary, overtime and expenses in respect of each Minister of State allocated to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27008/06]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 434: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of staff broken down by grade employed within her private office and her constituency office; the number of such staff who are permanent civil servants; the number who are political appointees; the annual cost of each such office in terms of salary, overtime and expenses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27023/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 433 and 434 together.

There are currently 9 staff working in my private office and 5.5 staff working in my constituency office, as follows:

Private Office

1 Principal Officer

1 Private Secretary at Higher Executive Officer level

2 Executive Officers

4 Executive Officers

4 Clerical Officers

1 Special Adviser at Principal Officer level.

Constituency Office

1 Higher Executive Officer

1 Staff Officer (working on a half time basis)

2 Clerical Officers

1 Personal Assistant at Higher Executive Officer level

1 Personal Secretary.

All these staff are permanent civil servants except for my Special Adviser, Personal Assistant and Personal Secretary. The annual cost of these offices in 2005 was as follows:

Private Office: €430,039.61

Constituency Office: €203,489.64

There are currently four staff working in Minister of State Deputy Síle de Valera's private office and four in her constituency office.

Private Office

1 Private Secretary at Higher Executive Officer level

1 Executive Officer

2 Clerical Officers.

Constituency Office

1 Staff Officer

2 Clerical Officers

1 Personal Secretary.

All of these staff except the Personal Secretary are permanent civil servants. The annual cost of these offices in 2005 was as follows:

Private Office: €159,801.29

Constituency Office: €115,174.96

The amount paid in respect of salary, overtime and expenses for these staff is in accordance with the salary scales and travel and subsistence rates approved by the Department of Finance.