Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 401: To ask the Minister for Education and Science 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. [47492/09]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 402: To ask the Minister for Education and Science 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. [47507/09]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 403: To ask the Minister for Education and Science 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. [47522/09]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 404: To ask the Minister for Education and Science 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. [47537/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 401 to 404, inclusive, together.

There are currently two Special Advisers working in my Department as follows: - Ms. Deirdre McDonnell, Principal Officer, is a Special Adviser on a salary of €108,207 per annum - Mr. Bernard Mallee, Special Adviser with responsibility for Press and Communications, is on an annual salary of €86,188. The salaries paid to the two officers are in accordance with the Department of Finance Guidelines relating to the Appointment of Ministerial Private Office Staff. Pension contributions made by both advisers are as follows: - Ms McDonnell is a civil servant and a member of the Contributory Pension scheme for Established Civil Servants (Contribution of 5% broken down to 3.5% of net salary and 1.5% of gross salary) and also a member of the Spouses and Children's Contributory Pension Scheme for Established Civil Servants (Contribution of 1.5% of net salary). - Mr Mallee is not a civil servant and is a member of the Non-contributory Pension Scheme for Non-established State Employees and is also a member of the Spouses and Children's Contributory Pension Scheme for Non-established State Employees (Contribution of 1.5% of net salary). Both advisers also pay a pensions-related deduction (pension levy) under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009.

I can assure the Deputy that I have been very mindful of the need to achieve value for money across all areas of expenditure in my Department and that, in that context, I regard the expenditure on my advisors as reasonable and proportionate given their role and expertise.