On the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The appointment of Special Advisers is subject to section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997.
From July 2020 costs for special adviser(s) to the Minister for Transport were absorbed by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.
The salary cost of the advisers to Minister Shane Ross, and Minister of State Hildegard Naughton in 2020 and 2021 are detailed below:
Minister Shane Ross
|
Period
|
Cost
|
Special Adviser Salary
|
January-July 2020
|
€49,849
|
Press Adviser Salary
|
January-July 2020
|
€47,287
|
Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton
|
Period
|
Cost
|
Special Adviser Salary
|
July 2020 - December 2021
|
€153,924
|
Press Adviser Salary
|
July 2020 - December 2021
|
€140,032
|
Total
|
|
€391,092
|
Standard pension contributions were deducted from salaries in 2020 and 2021.