Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 615: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the names, titles, duties and dates of appointment of each of the special advisers, political advisers, personal assistants and press officers appointed by him; the salary level of each appointee including payments in lieu of pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14210/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I have appointed, on a contract basis for my term of office, a Press Adviser, Mr. Tom Rowley, and a Special Adviser, Mr. Frank Lahiffe. The duties carried out by the Press Adviser and Special Adviser are as set out in Section 11 of the Public Service Management Act, 1997 i.e. 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 Press Adviser is on a personal salary of €106,670 together with a private pension contribution of 11% of salary. The Special Adviser is on a Principal Officer pay scale of up to €93,493.

I have also appointed, on a contract basis for my term of office, two non-established civil servants, a Personal Secretary, Ms. Mary Browne, and a Personal Assistant, Mr. Bobby Holland. The annual salary for my Personal Secretary is €41,736. 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 €44,800. In each instance the appointments are effective from 30th September 2004.