Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1479. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of special advisers that will be hired by his Department. [22771/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 Advisors is subject to section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997.

The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil were issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to my Department in August 2020.

The appointment of individual Special Advisors 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 Advisors have been formally appointed to my Department by the Government.