Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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118. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the salary scale that applies to the Secretary General of his Department; whether this scale has changed in the past year; whether there are proposals to change this scale in the coming period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4313/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Secretaries General and equivalents are graded at a number of levels each of which has a separate rate of remuneration. The grading structure for Secretary General posts was reviewed on a number of occasions by the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector. The final assessment of the grading of these posts by the Review Body in 2007 confirmed a three-tier grading structure, which has continued to the present. The Secretary General of my Department is on the Level III Secretary General salary scale. There have been no changes to the salary scale in the last year other than those arising from the Public Service Pay Agreement 2024-2026.

Following Government approval, on Tuesday 29th March, 2022, an Independent Review Panel was established by The Minister for Public Expenditure National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe T.D to conduct a review of the current recruitment and pay determination processes in place for Senior Public Service posts, in particular arrangements in the Civil Service. The objective of the Panel was to review the appointment process of senior level recruitment, including all Secretaries General of Government Departments, and pay determination issues to ensure that guidelines are open and transparent. On the basis of their review, the Panel made a range of findings and 38 recommendations. The full Report of the Panel is available on the gov.ie website at:

On 27 June 2023 Government, following agreement at Cabinet, the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform requested the Independent Review Panel remain in place to undertake a review of the grading of the Secretary General posts in the Departments of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; and Housing, Local Government & Heritage within the existing structure. This Report was submitted to the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on 28 August 2023 and is available at: