The Prime Minister has tabled in Parliament the guidelines the Government issued earlier this month over the pay given to consultants engaged by the various ministries.

They provide that the Office of the Prime Minister may have up to eight consultants.

Ministries which include a parliamentary secretary may have six and those without a parliamentary secretary may have four consultants.

Consultants may be contracted for one year or for three years, and their contract may be renewed. In all cases, indefinite employment cannot be expected.

The highest pay of a consultant is €33,853, equivalent to scale three of the civil service.

Retired public officers engaged as consultants cannot be paid more than the pay of the grade they retired from.

In all cases, salaries have to be negotiated and worked out as a proportion of the hours worked. A consultant would be entitled to a mobile phone and internet connection at home up to a maximum of €1,815 per annum.

In particular cases, a consultant may be granted a car allowance equivalent to €2,320 per annum for those who work 20 hours a week, and €4,659 per annum for those who work between 21 and 40 hours per week.

In exceptional cases and with the approval of the Prime Minister, a consultant may be given an expertise allowance of up to €20,000 per annum or an expense allowance of not more than €2,000.