asked the Minister for Finance the appointments made by him to his Department since his appointment as a member of Government, the names of those appointed, the nature of each post and salary attached thereto and if such appointments have been made from within the public service or elsewhere.

The following are the relevant particulars in respect of appointments in my Department since my present appointment as a member of the Government other than those (a) made as a result of competitions conducted by the Civil Service Commissioners, (b) arising in the normal course of promotions and (c) made to posts listed as scheduled occupations in the First Schedule to the Civil Service Commissioners Act, 1956: Mrs. P. Smith, Personal assistant— £6,739 per annum; Miss P. Fogarty, Personal assistant—£5,002 per annum.

The appointments were not made from within the public service.

Has the number of personal assistants to the Minister and his office remained the same as it was under his predecessor, or is it greater?

It is the same, and it is the same as it was in my former Department. I have the same personnel.