Departmental Staff

Monday, 9 September 2024

Ceisteanna (114, 115)

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

114. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of political staff employed in his Department, including parliamentary assistants, secretarial assistants, special advisers, drivers and other relevant positions; the number of civil or public service staff seconded to work within his Department or constituency offices; the salaries and job titles of each such person; the duty or role of each, in each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34912/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

115. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a list of the names of each special adviser employed by his Department since 2020; the Minister and Minister of State whom each adviser is associated with, and their respective salaries, in tabular form; the areas of expertise covered by such advisers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34930/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 115 together.

I can confirm to the Deputy the information he requested is outlined in the table below:

NAME	POSITION	MINISTER	Period	Current Salary Scale	Salary Scale on leaving department	Expertise
Paul Kenny	Special Adviser	Minister Ryan	July 2020 to July 2024		Principal Officer PPC - Point 6	Policy Adviser
Edel Hackett	Special Adviser	Minister Ryan	March 2022 to date	Principal Officer PPC - point 3		Press Adviser
John Mc Donald	Special Adviser	Minister Ryan	June 2020 to date	Principal Officer PPC - point 5		Policy Adviser
Margaret Ward	Special Adviser	Minister Ryan	July 2020 to February 2022		Principal Officer PPC - Point 2	Press Adviser
Sarah O Neill	Special Adviser	Minister Richard Bruton	October 2018 to June 2020		Principal Officer PPC - Point 4	Press Adviser
Patrick Cluskey	Special Adviser	Minister Richard Bruton	October 2018 to June 2020		Principal Officer PPC - Point 5	Policy Adviser
Robert Hughes	Special Adviser	Minister of State Sean Canney	January 2019 to June 2020		Principal Officer PPC - Point 2	Policy Adviser
John Murray	Civilian Driver	Minister Richard Bruton	October 2018 to June 2020		Clerical Officer - Point 1	Civilian Driver
Sean Divilly	Civilian Driver	Minister Richard Bruton	October 2018 to June 2020		Clerical Officer - Point 1	Civilian Driver

There are no advisers appointed by Minister of State Smyth or Minister of State Lawless to this Department.

The advisers I appointed above work/worked across the portfolio of both this Department as well as that of the Department of Transport. They are included in this response as the payment of salaries is made through the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.

All payments are made in line with the Ministerial Appointments and Expenses circulars and guidelines issued by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.

The appointments made by my predecessor, Minister Bruton, worked across the portfolio of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.

Question No. 115 answered with Question No. 114.