Question to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Mr. Paschal Donohoe, TD)
To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount spent by his Department on special advisers for each of the past four years; the way this compares with the four years from 2007 to 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – Jerry Buttimer
For WRITTEN ANSWERS on Tuesday, 20 January 2015.
REPLY
The information requested is set out in the table on a year by year basis.
| Year | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
| Cost | € 226,505 | € 194,569 | € 189,954 | € 181,891 | € 216,602 | € 206,331 | € 196,045 |
The costs year on year are not directly comparable due to a number of changes of personnel through the years associated with Ministerial moves or a change in administration. For example the yearly cost in 2011 includes pension contributions paid to outgoing Advisors of the previous administration. Salary costs also show a reduction in 2013 and 2014 due to a combination of pay cuts under the Haddington Road Agreement and changes at Ministerial and Minister of State posts in 2014.