Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 473: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the total cost of all staff, permanent and non-established, allocated to assist him with constituency work in the 100 days following his appointment. [27348/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question Numbers 653 to 655, inclusive, on 14 September 2011, which set out, inter alia, the staffing position in my Constituency Office. The position has not changed.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 653: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons employed in each of the private offices and the constituency offices of his 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [23456/11]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 654: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of special advisors and programme managers in his 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [23457/11]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 655: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons employed in his 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [23458/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 653, 654 and 655 together.

During the periods in question, three Ministers have held office in my Department. As the Deputy is no doubt aware, this Government reduced the number of staff in a Minister's Private and Constituency Offices from 16 to 12. In the case of Ministers of State, staffing numbers were reduced from 12 to 8. The current staffing of my Private and Constituency offices, and their salary ranges, is as follows:

My predecessor, Mr Brendan Smith, did not appoint a Special Advisor, Personal Assistant or Personal Secretary in this Department. The staff of his Private and Constituency offices, with the exception of these posts, remained as those in place for his predecessor, Mr Dermot Ahern, as set out below.

During the periods in question, 5 Ministers of State have held office in my Department. However, with the exception of Minister of State, Ms Kathleen Lynch T.D. and Mr Conor Lenihan, their offices were staffed in their entirety by other Departments.

Minister of State Lynch's Private Office includes one Executive Officer (salary range €30,516 - €47,975) from my Department.

The staffing of the Private and Constituency offices of Mr Conor Lenihan when he ceased office in this Department in April 2009 and the salary ranges of the staff concerned, is as follows: