Taoiseach to spend €900k on advisers and assistants

Almost €1m this year will be spent on Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s personal advisers, assistants, and secretaries.

Mr Kenny revealed the figures for his 11 staff yesterday as he outlined spending in his department and agencies under its remit.

He also revealed that gardaí had recently asked him, in the wake of water charge protests, if he wanted his security increased, but he declined the offer.

Outlining spending on his own officials, he said that it would cost €910,153 this year to pay for his four special advisers, five personal assistants, and two personal secretaries.

Mr Kenny told an Oireachtas committee this was down on the €1.23m annual spend by his predecessor.

Fianna Fáil TD Sean Fleming asked him about recent water charge protests that targeted President Michael D Higgins and the Garda security for him.

Spending for the President comes under the remit of the Department of Taoiseach.

Mr Kenny said the President’s security had been re-examined in the wake of the recent protests, when he visited a Dublin school and was the subject of verbal abuse.

The Taoiseach said he was “concerned” when he saw the protest scenes, adding: “I consider that to be disgraceful behaviour and I admire the President’s courage and the method in which he dealt with that.

“Security is a matter for the Garda Síochána and they discussed the issue of security with the President and his staff.”

It was up to gardaí and the President’s staff as to whether his security was increased or not, he said.

“The President is above politics in his office and should not be the subject of the kind of activity which I saw on our television screens recently.”

Mr Fleming asked if Mr Kenny had held any discussions with gardaí about his own security.

“The gardaí have sort of been interested in providing security. But I’m the kind of person who’s out and about a lot,” Mr Kenny said.

“And similar facilities that have been provided over the years have not been provided in this case. I didn’t feel that they’re necessary and I don’t feel that they’re necessary now.”

Up to €27m will be spent on the Department of Taoiseach itself this year. Other spending under its remit will include €52.8m for the CSO, an increase of almost a third on last year.

Mr Kenny also confirmed that an extra workday this year will cost his department some €350,000 for wages and pay.