David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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269. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of staff employed by her and each Minister of State, including parliamentary assistants, secretarial assistants, special advisers, press secretaries and other positions, in tabular form; the pay rate for each assistant and the total cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39556/16]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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270. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if any staff employed in the public and Civil Service are seconded to work with her or any Minister of State in their constituencies; and the number of same and cost to her department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39571/16]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 269 and 270 together.

Staffing numbers in the offices of Government Ministers and Ministers of State are managed in line with Instructions issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, this includes both civil servants and ministerial personal appointments. Civil Service staff are assigned to Ministers’ Private Offices and also the Constituency Office in recognition of the additional workload required of Ministers. Under the current “Instructions” the staffing complement each Minister or Minister of State had in their capacity as a Member of the Oireachtas remains in place and tese staff remain on the payroll of the Oireachtas.

The staffing of my offices in my capacity as Minister for Jobs Enterprise and Innovation, and that of my Minister of State colleagues is as set out below in tabular format.

In addition to the details below, I can advise the Deputy whilst I currently have one Special Adviser reporting directly to me the Guidelines allow for two.

My colleague, Minister of State John Halligan, T.D, has recently received approval to appoint a Special Adviser. However, for administrative reasons, Minister of State Halligan appears on the staffing complement of the Department of Educations and Skills where he is also assigned and, therefore, his Special Adviser will be on the payroll of that Department also.

Finally, the Department has a Press Office in situ staffed by Departmental civil servants who support the Ministerial team.

Minister Mary Mitchell O'Connor, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Minister Pat Breen, Minister of State for Employment and Small Business

Minister John Halligan, Minister of State for Training, Skills and Innovation