Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason he sanctioned a salary of €114,000 for his own special adviser despite it being in breach of the pay cap for Government advisers; if he will reverse the pay of all Government advisers who are currently in breach of the Government's pay cap of €92,672; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3751/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Guidelines on Staffing in Ministerial Offices were revised following decisions by this Government on a number of cost saving measures relating to the personal appointees of Ministers and Ministers of State. The current Guidelines provide that Special Advisers to Ministers are to be placed on the Principal Officer (standard) scale, which currently runs from €80,051 at the minimum to €92,672 at the maximum.

Under the old Guidelines on Ministerial Appointments, operated by the previous Government, Special Advisers were paid their existing salary plus an 'attraction allowance' of 10%, subject to the overriding maximum remuneration of the Principal (higher) scale – currently €99,236. Under the new Guidelines, Special Advisers should now normally be appointed on the minimum of the PO standard scale i.e. €80,051. In addition there is no longer an attraction allowance of 10%.

The Government recognised, however, that there would be occasions when a higher salary might be required in order to secure the appointment of a Special Adviser with particular skills and expertise. Remuneration in excess of the minimum point of the Principal Officer (standard) scale has been sanctioned by me in a number of instances in the light of the business case presented. In the majority of cases, this has been based on evidence of higher earnings in previous employment and the need to secure the appointment of an individual with particular skills and expertise. At all times, I have endeavoured to keep exceptions to a minimum and in all cases value for money considerations were uppermost in my mind when approving exceptions to the Guidelines. I would like to add that in a number of cases, Special Advisers have been appointed on substantially reduced salaries compared to what they were earning prior to their appointment.

In the case of the sanctioning of a salary of €114,000 for my Special Adviser, this salary was based on his earnings in his previous employment and the particular skills and expertise he possesses for the position. I have no plans at present to reverse the pay of all Government advisers who are currently remunerated at rates in excess of the salary caps for Special Advisers set out in the Guidelines, as it is critical that the Government continues to have flexibility to ensure that, in certain cases, Special Advisers with particular skills and expertise may be appointed.