10 of the government’s 17 junior ministers were allocated special advisors during a meeting of the Cabinet yesterday, sparking criticism from opposition parties.
In the last Dail, they were on the assistant principal pay scale, which starts at 67 thousand euro a year.
It comes on top of the news today that T.D.’s are to receive a pay increase next week, bringing their salaries close to Celtic tiger levels.
Sinn Fein’s leader Mary Lou McDonald has described the increase in the numbers of advisors as an appalling waste of tax payer’s money, which she says has left her stunned.
Labour leader Alan Kelly says the Taoiseach, Tanaiste and leader of the green party already have 16 advisors between them, which he says is excessive, and that it's farcical that Junior Ministers are now being provided with another 10 advisors, which he says aren't needed
