Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 424: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide a list of all Special Advisors appointed by him or his Ministers of State since March 2011 whose salary exceeds the first pay point of the Principal Officer Standard Scale; the Special Advisors names and salaries; salary increases awarded the aforementioned Special Advisors since March 2011. [36598/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, my Department was established on 2 June 2011. The salary levels of the two special advisors currently appointed to my office correspond to the first point of the Principal Officer Standard Scale, although, in the case of one advisor, that salary is abated as the person is in receipt of a public service pension.

No special advisors have been appointed in the case of the Minister of State at my Department.

For the sake of completeness, I would also advise that Mr Seán Mac Cárthaigh acted as special adviser to me from 10 March 2011 to 2 March 2012. During that period, he continued to be employed by the Arts Council and his salary, which was at an annual rate corresponding to the 6th point of the Assistant Principal Higher scale, was recouped to the Council by my Department.