Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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209. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide in tabular form the number of advisers, programme managers, press officers and political staff and communication staff employed by his Department in 1981, 2011 and currently in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40700/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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No advisors, programme managers, press officers, political staff and communication staff were employed by this Department in 1981. Prior to my taking office in March 2011, the staffing complement of the Private Office for the Minister for Defence included 2 special advisors.

I have not appointed any special advisors in my role as Minister for Defence. I have however engaged the services of a personal assistant who assists me in constituency matters. My Department’s Press Officer is a civil servant at Assistant Principal grade who is also responsible for a range of other duties.