Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Defence the number of agency and contract staff currently employed under the aegis of his Department; the mechanism in place for monitoring and managing the associated costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10980/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Some 5.5 nursing positions at various military installations are filled by agency staff. The Department employs a total of eight civilian employees under fixed-term contracts to work in military installations. In addition, a personal assistant to the Minister and two civilian drivers for the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, are employed on temporary contracts. These appointments are coterminous with the terms of office of the Minister in the case of the personal assistant, or the Minister of State in the case of the civilian drivers. Agency or contract staff are only utilised as required and when there are compelling reasons to engage such staff on an urgent or temporary basis.