Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 353: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism in respect of each Minister of State within his Department the number of staff broken down by grade employed within their private office and their constituency office; the number of 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [42721/06]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 354: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of staff broken down by grade employed within his private office and his constituency office; the number of 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [42736/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 353 and 354 together.

There are currently 7 staff employed in my private office:

1 Special Adviser at Principal Officer level

1 Private Secretary at Higher Executive Officer level

1 Personal Assistant at Higher Executive Officer level

2 Executive Officers

2 Clerical Officers.

There are currently 6 staff employed in my constituency office:

1 Executive Officer

1 Personal Secretary at Oireachtas Secretarial Assistant level

4 Clerical Officers.

All of the above staff with the exception of my Special Adviser, Personal Assistant and Personal Secretary are permanent civil servants and are paid at the appropriate civil service rates. In addition, my Private Secretary is paid an allowance at the rate of €18,742 per annum for these duties. My Special Adviser and Personal Assistant who are political appointees are paid at the relevant civil service rates and my Personal Secretary who is also a political appointee is paid at the Oireachtas Secretarial Assistant rate with a 10% attraction allowance in respect of her position.

The expenses and overtime paid to staff in these Offices for the year ended 31 December 2005 is as follows:

The staffing of both my private and constituency offices is in line with Department of Finance guidelines on this matter.

As the Deputy is aware, there is no Minister of State at my Department.