Staff in Taoiseach’s office get raises totalling €31k

At least 13 of the Taoiseach’s staff, including the Government press secretary and his deputy, have been given pay rises amounting to over €31,000.

Just one year after taking up their positions, government press secretary, Feargal Purcell saw his salary rise by €3,500 to €119,795 while deputy press secretary Cathy Madden saw her salary rise by €2,941 to €99,236.

The assistant government press secretary, Joanne Lonergan, a former press officer for Fine Gael, had her wages boosted by €3,294 to €89,898.