€3m a year for backroom ministerial media advisers

Backroom ministerial media advisers are taking home salaries worth more than €3m a year, despite concerns over the stability of the Government and the limited amount of legislation passed since the general election.

Details released under the Freedom of Information Act show, since February general election, 37 officials tasked with advising cabinet members have shared the lucrative sum.

The rate, which involves individual salaries ranging from €79,000 to €156,000 a year, includes significant incomes for former TV3 news anchor Alan Cantwell, ex-housing charity chief executive Bob Jordan, and a handful of others receiving incomes above the State pay ceiling after exceptional requests were made.