Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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1084. To ask the Minister for Health the names and salaries of his special advisers; the salaries paid to each Minister and Minister of State in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19723/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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On the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The appointment of Special Advisers is subject to section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997.

The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil, which incorporate the principles of section 11 of the Public Service Management Act, are currently awaiting Government approval. 

The appointment of individual Special Advisers is a matter for each Government Minister subject to the terms set out in the aforementioned guidelines, although the appointments are also subject to formal Government approval.  At this stage, no Special Advisers have been formally appointed to my Department by the Government. 

However, the Deputy may wish to note that I have assigned one person to work with me as Special Adviser and that person will be formally appointed by the Government once the Guidelines have been approved.

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform must be notified of the rate of salary to be paid in all cases for Special Advisers; These rates will then be published on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

The salaries currently paid to me and the Ministers of State in my Department are set out in the attached table.  

Salaries paid to Minister and Ministers of State at the Department of Health – 30 July 2020

The Government has decided that Members of the Government and Ministers of State will gift 10% of their salary to the Exchequer and not benefit from future pay restorations (2% in October).