O’Donoghue increased staff from 3 to 10

OPPOSITION TDs are to demand answers from Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue on why he trebled the number of staff in his office which costs the taxpayer almost half a million euro a year.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said he will instruct his party’s members on the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission to ask the chairman, Mr O’Donoghue, to explain the significant staff increases.

Ceann Comhairle of the previous Dáil, Rory O’Hanlon, had three staff at his disposal – a private secretary, a secretarial assistant and a clerical officer – with a combined salary of €141,717.