Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 286: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the name, title and number of special advisers in his Department between 1 January to date in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47494/09]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 287: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government 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. [47509/09]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 288: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government 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. [47524/09]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 289: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government 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. [47539/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 286 to 289, inclusive, together.

The information requested is set out in the following table:-

* Mr. Geoghegan's salary is paid from my Department's vote but he is based in the Department of the Taoiseach. The annual salaries quoted above will be reduced in line with the public service pay cuts announced in the recent Budget.

As outlined in their contracts the above staff had the option of joining the Non-contributory Pension Scheme for Non-established State Employees or having their membership of an approved private pension fund paid for by the Department subject to certain conditions. Two are members of the Non-contributory Scheme and two have private pensions. The cost to the Department to date in 2009 of pension contributions to 4 Special Advisers is €26,314.

The primary function of special advisers is to monitor, facilitate and help secure the achievement of Government objectives. They are also tasked with keeping me informed and advising me on a wide range of business, financial, political and media matters. My advisers liaise with a number of other Government Departments and act as a point of contact in my office for other Ministers and their advisers. They also liaise, on my behalf, with organisations and interest groups outside of Government.

The employment of staff by my Department, including Special Advisers, is subject to my Department's compliance with an authorised staffing number set by the Department of Finance and upon which my Department reports on a monthly basis. The employment of staff is also subject to the agreed Administrative Budget provisions for staff salaries. The number and pay of Special Advisers has been determined by the Government and individual appointments have been approved by Government.