Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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205. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform 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. [6576/19]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that non-civil service appointments in my Department are made in line with “Instructions to Personnel Officers - Ministerial Appointments for the 32nd Dáil”, which include “Guidelines on staffing of Ministerial offices” issued by my Department.

Details of special advisers contracted by my Department since 2017 are outlined in the table below:

Special Advisers are appointed under Section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. A Special Adviser to a Minister or to a Minister of State, as in the case may be, shall

(a)assist the Minister or Minister of State, as the case may be, by –

(i)Providing advice,

(ii)Monitoring, facilitating and securing the achievement of the Government objectives that relate to the Department, as requested by the Minister or the Minister of State, as the case may be, and

(iii)  Performing such other functions as may be directed by the Minister or the Minister of State, as the case may be that are not otherwise provided for in this Act and do not involve the exercise of any specific powers conferred on the Minister or the Minister of State as the case may be or any other office holder by or under any other Act.

The annual costs associated with these advisers are as follows:

Current Principal Officer (Standard) PPC Pay Scale (N87 – 1^stOctober 2018)

The appointments of Advisers are kept under review given the breath of my responsibilities across two Departments.