Written answers

Tuesday, 8 April 2025

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Departmental Staff

Photo of Peadar TóibínPeadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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627. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide a list with the job titles and salaries of all Ministerial staff, and Department private secretaries. [17058/25]

Photo of James BrowneJames Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested is set out in the table below.

Minister Role Payscale
Minister James Browne Private Secretary1 Administrative officer Higher Scale PPC - €54,304 - €75,765
Special Advisor Principal Officer PPC - €104,971 - €122,054
Special Advisor Principal Officer PPC - €104,971 - €122,054
Constituency Office Executive officer Higher Scale PPC - €40,550 - €62,912
Minister of State – John Cummins2 Private Secretary1 Administrative officer Standard Scale PPC - €39,869 - €68,472
Special Adviser Assistant Principal PPC - €80,668 - €100,530
Civilian Driver Civilian Driver - PPC - €861.48 (Weekly)
Minister of State Christopher O’Sullivan2 Private Secretary1 HEO Standard scale - PPC - €58,264 - €68,472
Special Advisor Assistant Principal Officer - PPC - €80,668 - €100,530
Civilian Driver Civilian Driver - PPC - €861.48 (Weekly)
Civilian Driver Civilian Driver - PPC - €861.48 (Weekly)
Minister of State Kieran O’Donnell3 Private Secretary1 Executive officer Standard Scale PPC - €37,544 - €56,900

1. In addition to the basic salary for their respective grade the role of Private Secretary currently attracts an annual allowance of €24,952.

2. A request for Expressions of Interest has been circulated to fill vacancies in the constituency offices of both Minister of State Cummins and Minister of State O'Sullivan following which appointments will be made .

3. Minister of State O'Donnell's primary office is in the Department of Health the table above reflects his Ministerial staff associated with my Department.

Photo of Eoin Ó BroinEoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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628. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of advisors he has appointed, their names, responsibilities and a brief biography of their professional and employment experience. [17238/25]

Photo of James BrowneJames Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with the guidance provided by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform for the 34th Dáil I have appointed two advisers as follows -

John McDonald

Mr. McDonald has previously served as a Special Adviser to Minister Eamonn Ryan in the Departments of Transport and Environment, Communications and Climate, as well as serving as a Secretarial and Parliamentary Assistant from 2016 to 2020. He brings substantial Oireachtas and policy experience to the role of Special Adviser here in my Department.

Síona Cahill

Ms. Cahill was recently employed as an Account Director in DHR Communications and is a graduate of Civil Law and Sociology at Maynooth University and the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII). She has been a regular media contributor across radio and television as well as being a public affairs commentator for a number of national current affairs programmes. She brings considerable media and communications expertise to the role of Special Adviser my Department.

In addition Minister of State, John Cummins T.D. and Minister of State Christopher O'Sullivan have appointed one Special Adviser each in accordance with the guidance provided by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.

Ciara Phelan

Ms Phelan has been appointed as Special Adviser by Minister of State Cummins. She has previously worked as Assistant Government Press Secretary and Special Adviser to then Taoiseach, Simon Harris, T.D. in the previous Government. Ms Phelan's interdepartmental knowledge from her tenure in the Department of Taoiseach brings considerable experience to her role as Special Adviser to Minister Cummins. Ms Phelan has also previously worked as a print journalist for two national newspapers and worked in broadcast media for RTÉ and Newstalk. She brings substantial media and communications expertise to the role of Special Adviser.

Don Kingston

Mr Kingston has been appointed as Special Adviser to Minister of State O'Sullivan. He has 20 years’ private sector experience delivering changes in digital transformation and regulatory compliance. He brings considerable experience to the role of Special Adviser.

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