Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 1061: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Civil Service staff dealing with constituency matters in his office; the number of Civil Service staff dealing with constituency matters in the offices of Ministers of State within his Department; and the cost in salaries for these staff per annum. [31131/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The following tables set out the grades, numbers and remuneration of the civil service staff in my constituency office and those of the two Ministers of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Personal Pension Contribution (PPC) scales apply where officers were employed since 6 April 1995, pay class A rate of PRSI and make a personal pension contribution.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1062: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the bonuses, merit awards and other payments above the basic salary they have approved for the heads of State agencies, boards and other quangos for 2005, 2006, 2007 and to date in 2008; the basis on which they made the decision to approve such awards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31195/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are four bodies operating under the aegis of my Department. Details on these four bodies are set out below: Development Education Advisory Committee was established in 2003 following the recommendations of the Ireland Aid Review Committee. Its purpose is to advise the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister of State for Overseas Development and Irish Aid on policy regarding development education; Government Emigrant Services Advisory Committee (previously known as Díon) was set up in 1984 to advise the Government on the welfare of the Irish community in Britain. The Committee's primary role is to advise on the distribution of Government financial support to voluntary agencies providing front line services and community care to Irish people in Britain; Advisory Board for Irish Aid was established in August 2002 to provide general oversight and advice to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister of State for Overseas Development on the strategic direction of the Government's programme of assistance to developing countries; and Fulbright Commission (The Board of the Ireland — United States Commission for Educational Exchange) finances study, research, teaching and other educational activities between Ireland and the United States of America.

Three of these bodies are Advisory Committees, serviced by the staff of my Department. The management of the Fulbright Commission, to which my Department provides an annual grant in aid, enjoys full autonomy of management and administration in accordance with the Educational Exchange (Ireland and the United States of America) Act 1991. Accordingly, the question of the payment of bonuses and merit awards by my Department in respect of these bodies does not arise.