Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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534. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of advisers and special advisers employed by his Department in 2017 and 2018 and to date in 2019; the areas of expertise covered by such advisers; the annual salaries associated with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6563/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Ministerial Advisers are appointed under the Appointment of Special Adviser (Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine) Orders.

I can confirm that two advisers were employed by my Department during 2017. During 2018, as one of my advisers was availing of statutory leave, a replacement adviser was appointed on a temporary basis to cover this leave. In late 2018, an additional adviser was appointed to Minister of State Doyle. Therefore a total of three advisers are currently serving, in accordance with Section 11 of the Public Service Management Act, 1997.

The current salary scale for Senior Ministerial Advisers is aligned to the Civil Service Principal Officer salary scale, which is in the range of €81,661 to €100,402 per annum. The current salary scale for Advisers to Ministers' of State is aligned to the Civil Service Assistant Principal Officer salary scale which is in the range of €64,232 to €78,311 per annum.

Additional information in respect of these appointments is provided to the Oireachtas at the time the appointments take place.