Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 39: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the specific arrangements, including staffing, which he will put in place to assist him in his wider governmental and political responsibilities. [5203/11]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 40: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the arrangements he has put in place for constituency offices within his Department. [5234/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 40 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, in light of the current economic circumstances, the Government decided on 15 March to reduce the staffing levels in Ministers' private and constituency offices.

The new limits for Ministerial Offices are as follows:

Each Minister of the Government may have a maximum of 8 staff in his/her Private Office (down from 10) and 4 staff in his/her Constituency Office (down from 6).

Each Minister of State may have a maximum of 5 staff in his/her Private Office (down from 7) and 3 staff in his/her Constituency Office (down from 5).

Each Minister of State who is assigned to more than one Department may have a total of 7 staff in their Private Office (down from 9).

All other arrangements are currently under consideration and will be settled in the near future with a view to facilitating implementation of the commitments and priorities set out in the Programme for Government.