Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number and names of all special advisers, special press advisers, or any other type of Ministerial adviser in his Department; the name of the Minister / Minister of State to whom he reports; the salary of each advisor now; the salary of each advisor at the time they were appointed; if any salary increase was asked for; if this was granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37496/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The following table outlines the names and salary details of the two Special Advisors appointed by me as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation. There are no further Ministerial advisers appointed in my Department.

In line with the Guidelines for Ministerial Appointments, sanction for a higher rate of salary for Special Advisers may be granted by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, with the agreement of the Minister for Finance.

In light of Mr. Conlon’s experience and qualifications, and given the wide range of issues dealt with by my Department and the key role played by Mr. Conlon as my Adviser, my Department wrote to the Department of Finance in April, 2011 requesting the sanction of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to the appointment of Mr. Ciaran Conlon as my Special Adviser at a rate of €127,000. Sanction was obtained from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and Mr. Conlon was appointed to the post of Special Adviser with an annual salary of €127,000. He has received no subsequent increase.