Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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592. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of civil servants engaged in constituency work on his behalf; and the salaries, accommodation costs and expenses involved or associated with these duties. [13678/14]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The staffing of both my Private and Constituency Offices is consistent with the provisions of the Guidelines on Staffing of Ministerial Offices approved by Government. Two civil servants (1.4 whole time equivalent) at clerical officer grade are engaged in my constituency office. The combined annual rate of pay for these officers, both of whom are paid at standard civil service rates, currently amounts to €49,079. Overtime and expenses, where they arise, are payable at standard civil service rates. I can confirm that no such costs occurred in respect of these officers in 2013 or to date in 2014.

As both officers are located in my Department's headquarters, no additional accommodation costs arise in respect of their assignment to constituency work. As I have previously advised the House, I have also appointed a personal secretary and a personal assistant, based in my constituency office in Listowel, in line with the above mentioned guidelines.