John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 802: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of persons employed in each of the private offices and the constituency offices of her Ministers of State; the annual amount paid in respect of salaries to each office for 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011 in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23338/11]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 803: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of special advisors and programme managers in her Department; the annual amount paid in respect of salaries in regard to each such office for each of the years 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23353/11]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 804: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of persons employed in her private offices and constituency offices; the annual amount paid in respect of salaries in regard to each such office for 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011 in tabular format; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23368/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 802 to 804, inclusive, together.

As my Department only came into legal operation on 2 June 2011, the information supplied in response to the Deputy's question relates to 2011 only. The numbers employed and associated salary costs in each office are set out in the following tabular format My Private Office numbers include three Special Advisers, two of which are employed on a 50% work pattern. There are no Programme Managers employed at my Department.

The Minister for Finance has issued detailed guidelines on the staffing of Ministerial Offices which include provisions for limits on the numbers of staff that may be employed in a Minister's Private Office and Constituency Office. These limits are 8 and 4 whole-time equivalents respectively. In addition, a Minister may also appoint two civilian drivers who are not considered "office" staff and are therefore not encompassed by the limits set out above. These guidelines also set salary limits for persons appointed to the position of Special Adviser, Personal Assistant, Personal Secretary and Civilian Driver. All Ministerial appointments in my Department are in line with these guidelines.