Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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107. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to reduce the top-ups paid to Government advisers who have breached Government pay policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52365/13]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I am not aware of any breaches of Government pay policy involving a special advisor receiving remuneration in excess of the rate of pay sanctioned by my Department. There are clear guidelines in place for determining pay levels and for seeking the sanction of my Department on pay levels where it is required in any particular instance.

The guidelines on staffing in ministerial offices were revised following decisions by the Government on a number of cost saving measures relating to the personal appointees of Ministers and Ministers of State. The guidelines specify that all appointments of ministerial staff, including the pay and terms and conditions of employment, require the prior sanction of my Department. Appointments from outside of the Civil Service also require the sanction of the Taoiseach.

The guidelines provide that special advisors are to be placed on the principal officer (standard scale), which currently runs from €75,647 at the minimum to €87,258 at the maximum. They provide that appointments are to be on the first point of the scale but there would be occasions when a higher salary may be required in order to secure the appointment of an advisor with particular skills and expertise.

On this basis, the guidelines provide for individual cases to be examined on a case by case basis. For example, in cases where, prior to appointment, the basic pay of a special advisor was greater than the minimum, it is open to Ministers to seek sanction from my Department to appoint the person at a higher starting level. I have no plans to ask the Government to amend these arrangements.