Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 356: To ask the Minister for Transport the arrangements he has put in place for constituency offices within his Department. [5240/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The final arrangements for constituency offices in my Department have not yet been completed. Following the decision of the Government on 15 March 2011, there will be no more than four staff in my constituency office and no more than three staff each in the constituency offices of the Ministers of State at my Department, Minister Kelly and Minister Ring.

It should be noted that this marks a considerable reduction from the levels of staffing permitted under the previous government where there were a maximum of six staff in each Minister of Government's office and four in each Minister of State's constituency office. The reduction in staff assigned to Ministers' private and constituency offices is in the order of 25% and sets a good example for Government Departments and Agencies seeking to implement reductions in staff under the Croke Park Agreement and Programme for Government.