Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 593: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the names and salaries of all her special advisors including special advisors of Ministers of State; any salary increases they have received since they took office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18644/12]

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 595: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, details of all salary increases for special advisors requested by her or any Ministers of State in her Department; the names of the advisors and the amount requested; a list of salary increases granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18661/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 593 and 595 together.

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the names and salaries of my Special Advisors is set out in the tabular statement below. There is no Minister of State attached to my Department.

Kathleen Barrington commenced duty on 18 July 2011, and was initially on a salary of €80,051 i.e. the first point of the Principal Officer pay scale. However, on the basis of her experience and qualifications, I sought sanction from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on 19 October 2011 to place her on a salary on par with her previous remuneration and received sanction to place her on the 3rd point of the scale i.e. €86,604 per annum effective from the 18 July 2011.

The applicable pay scale grade for Special Advisers is the Principal Officer (standard) scale: €80,051 to €92,672. As Edward Brophy was previously employed in the private sector on a salary package that was more than twice the highest point of the Principal Officer (standard) scale, I sought sanction from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for remuneration in excess of the applicable pay scale grade. A single point salary of €127,796 was sanctioned by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform effective from 29 July 2011. This represents a reduction of over one third in my Special Adviser's previous salary in the private sector.