Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 1748: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the total payroll and the total financial package including basic salary, performance, other bonuses and pension entitlements of the chief executive officer of every public agency or quango under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30610/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The information relevant to the Deputy's question is being compiled and will be forwarded to her as soon as possible.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 1749: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of staff broken down by grade, the number of such staff who are full time civil servants, the number of such staff who are political appointees, the cost for 2007 of each such office in terms of salary, overtime and expenses and the projected cost for 2008 of each such office in terms of salary, overtime and expenses in respect of the private and the constituency office of him and each Minister of State within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30625/08]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 1778: To ask the Minister for Education and Science 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 Junior Ministers within his Department; and the cost in salaries for these staff per annum. [31127/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1749 and 1778 together.

The information in relation to the staffing and associated costs in terms of salary, overtime and expenses for my Private and Constituency offices and those of the Minister of State at my Department are as follows:

There are currently 8 officers in my Private Office, 1 of whom is a non-Civil Servant.

The grades of these officers are:

2 Special Advisers (one of whom is a non Civil Servant)

1 Higher Executive Officer/Private Secretary

2 Executive Officers

3 Clerical Officers

The total costs of this office in 2007 in terms of salary, overtime and expenses was €472,097.94. The total anticipated costs in 2008 in terms of salary, overtime and expenses are €460,664.43.

There are currently 5.5 officers in my Constituency Office, 2 of whom are non-Civil Servants. The grades of these officers are:

1 Personal Assistant (non Civil Servant)

1 Personal Secretary (non Civil Servant)

1 Higher Executive Officer

0.5 Staff Officer

2 Clerical Officers

The total costs of this office in 2007 in terms of salary, overtime and expenses was €228,608.32. The total anticipated costs in 2008 in terms of salary, overtime and expenses are €223,166.47.

There are currently 7 officers in the Private Office of the Minister of State at my Department, 2 of whom are non-Civil servants. The grades of these officers are:

1 Higher Executive Officer/Private Secretary

1 Executive Officer

3 Clerical Officers

2 Civilian Drivers (non Civil Servants)

The total cost of this office in 2007 in terms of salary, overtime and expenses was €303,437.97. The total anticipated costs in 2008 in terms of salary, overtime and expenses are €312,701.35.

There are currently 4.8 officers in the Constituency Office of the Minister of State at my Department, 2 of whom are non-Civil Servants. The grades of these officers are:

1 Personal Assistant (non Civil Servant)

1 Personal Secretary (non Civil Servant)

0.80 Staff Officer

2 Clerical Officers

The total costs of this office in 2007 in terms of salary, overtime and expenses was €191,052.52. The total anticipated costs in 2008 in terms of salary, overtime and expenses are €180,101.98. These staffing levels are within the Department of Finance Guidelines for the staffing of the Private and Constituency offices of a Minister and Minister of State. The salaries paid to the Civil Servants are in accordance with the Department of Finance salary scales for the relevant grades. The salaries paid to the non-civil servant staff are in accordance with the Department of Finance Instructions relating to the Appointment of Ministerial Private Office Staff.

The Deputies 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, the Minister of State at my Department does not have a special adviser, in contrast with the arrangements under the Rainbow Government, whereby the Minister of State 1995-97 had a special adviser.