Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 244: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of his constituency and parliamentary staff, appointed following the February 2011, on salaries that exceed their applicable pay scale grade; the number of his existing and parliamentary staff employed prior to the February 2011 elections but awarded salary increases following the election that exceed their applicable pay scale grade; and if he will provide their annual salary details in a tabular format. [34573/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The table below identifies the number of constituency and parliamentary staff, appointed by me following the February 2011 elections. It includes their current salary and the salary they received prior to the elections.

Personal Assistant and Personal Secretary:

In accordance with Ministerial Guidelines issued by the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, the current salary of a Personal Assistant and a Personal Secretary is slightly higher than the salary they received in the Oireachtas. This increase is sanctioned in order to offset the effect of the pension levy.

Special Advisers

One of my Special Advisers was employed in the Oireachtas on a part time basis as a Parliamentary Assistant. On appointment as Special Adviser he was placed on the first point of the Principal Officer (standard) scale, i.e. €80,051 in line with Ministerial Guidelines.

The Ministerial Guidelines also provide for an exemption to be granted in relation to remuneration where the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform sanctions a higher salary rate. This exemption was sought in relation to my second Special Adviser and sanction was received from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to place him on the higher salary of €127,000. Prior to his appointment, my second Special Adviser was employed on a salary of approximately €110,000.