State blasted as 'political hacks drain cash'

GOVERNMENT Ministers were accused last night of splashing out €3.5 million a year on dozens of new spindoctors, advisors and political hacks, while neglecting urgently needed public services.

Questions were raised over the value for money of the estimated annual wage bill for non-civil service staff, appointed since the 2002 general election, after fresh figures revealed the true extent of the cost to the taxpayer of political appointees.

Unlike normal State employees, politically appointed staff are hand picked by ministers and brought in to fulfil a specific political role.

The total cost could be even higher as some ministers refuse to give exact salaries or even the names of their staff.

In stark contrast to the specific details provided by the Taoiseach on his non-civil service staff, the Tánaiste declined to provide names or salaries of her political appointees, who have cost the taxpayer €750,000 in just 18 months.

Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy openly divulges that his wife is paid €39,790 as his secretary.

Yet Minister for Foreign Affairs Brian Cowen won't even reveal the identity of his political staff, while Minister for Education Noel Dempsey won't say what his staff are paid and Minister for the Environment Martin Cullen only gives estimates of salaries for some of his staff.

Highlighting the absence of details, Fine Gael education spokesperson Olwyn Enright said this information should be readily available to the public.

Focusing on the escalating costs of these political staff, Deputy Enright said the parents of the 10,000 children waiting to have their child's special educational needs assessed are entitled to ask if the €3.5 million spent on 'political hacks' is money well spent.

But the Taoiseach has previously claimed the FF-PD coalition has hired less advisers than the Rainbow Government of Fine Gael, Labour and Democratic Left.

After being informed by the Irish Examiner that their counterparts were giving specific details, a number of departments still refused to give names or wages breakdowns.

The Department of the Environment said details of exact salaries was "personal information".

The Department of Education said Deputy Enright's question did not seek specific salaries and it wasn't its policy to give out those figures.

Refuting the suggestion that Ms Harney was withholding information on her appointees, the Tánaiste's spokesperson said these details were provided in response to a similar query as recently as last September and said Deputy Enright's question was answered satisfactorily.

According to a Government spokesman, the role of advisors is to keep Taoiseach and the Government informed on a wide range of issues.

"Each of the advisors liaise with a number of departments and act as a point of contact in the office for ministers and their advisors," the spokesperson said.