Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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130. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the salaries and pensions paid out to special advisers to Ministers and Ministers of State in his Department in 2020 and 2021, broken down by Minister, in tabular form. [11393/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In common with many Government Departments, the Department has a number of Special Advisers appointed who play key roles in the provision of advice and support to myself and the Ministers of State. The agriculture and food sector plays a vital role in Ireland’s economy, making a significant contribution to employment in rural and coastal areas and the guidance provided by the Special Advisers is a critical element in ensuring the delivery of the strategic goals of my Department.

The key focus in all our considerations is to:

- promote and safeguard public, animal and plant health and animal welfare for the benefit of consumers and producers and wider society;

- provide income and market supports to underpin the rural economy and the environment; and

- provide the optimum policy framework for the sustainable development of the agri-food sector.

During 2020 and 2021, there have been a total of ten officers (but a maximum of five serving at any one time) assigned to Special Adviser roles within my Department. In line with section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997, the salaries of four of the Special Advisers are paid on the same scale as a Principal Officer in the Civil Service and one is paid on the Assistant Principal Officer scale.

The total amount paid in 2020 was €211,302.93 and in 2021 it was €404,812.84. I can also confirm to the Deputy that there were no pensions paid by my Department to Special Advisers during those years.