Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 201: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the name, title and number of special advisers in his Department between 1 January and to date in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47498/09]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the details of the annual salaries in cash amount, and not merely in grade level, of special advisers in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47513/09]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 203: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the details of the total cost of pension contributions associated with the retention of special advisers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47528/09]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 204: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will defend the spend of taxpayers' money on such additional expertise, as provided by special advisers, when resources are scarce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47543/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to takes Questions Nos. 201 to 204, inclusive, together.

The Public Service Management Act 1997 provides for the appointment of two Special Advisers to assist Ministers in performing their roles and achieving the objectives of Government. I have two Special Advisers, one focusing on policy, one focusing on press. The current salary scale applicable to both advisers is that of Principal Officer: €86,168 - €106,582. These salaries are subject to the Public Sector Pensions Levy. In addition, their salaries will be subject to the public service pay reductions announced in last week's Budget which will take effect from 1 January 2010. Payments not exceeding 11% of salary are paid to both advisers in respect of Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs).

I am satisfied that the two Special Advisers, whose remit covers a broad spectrum across the Justice and Equality sectors, represent full value for money for the services they provide. The practice of appointing advisers is decades old and has been advanced by all parties when in Government. Indeed, when the Deputy's Party were last in Government a far greater number of Advisers and Programme Managers were employed to advise Ministers on Justice and Equality matters. Finally, the overall staffing of my Private and Constituency Offices, including the two Special Advisers, remains within the relevant guidelines set down by the Department of Finance and in the Cabinet Handbook.