List of Special Advisers - 32nd Dáil - September 2016 Department Minister/Minister of State Name of Adviser Sanctioned Pay Rate Relevant Payscale Agriculture, Food & the Michael Creed Áine Kilroy €87,258 PO Standard (non PPC) Marine Jonathan Hoare €79,401 PO Standard Arts, Heritage, Regional, Heather Humphreys Pauric McPhillips €79,401 PO Standard Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs Sarah Meade €82,587 PO Standard Attorney General Máire Whelan Christian Keeling €79,401 PO Standard Children & Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone Patricia Ryan €85,750 PO Standard Jerry O'Connor €85,750 PO Standard Communications, Denis Naughten Suzanne Coogan €79,401 PO Standard Climate Change & Natural Resources Ross Elwood €79,401 PO Standard Education & Skills Richard Bruton Conor Quinn €87,258 PO Standard (non-PPC) Patrick Cluskey €79,401 PO Standard Finance Michael Noonan Mary Kenny €87,258 PO Standard (non-PPC) Seán Kinsella* €85,127 PO Higher Foreign Affairs & Trade Charles Flanagan Sarah Kavanagh €82,587 PO Standard Tom Fabozzi €79,401 PO Standard Health Simon Harris Joanne Lonergan €87,258 PO Standard (non-PPC) Majella Fitzpatrick €91,624 PO Standard Minister of State Finian McGrath Damien O'Farrell €79,401 PO Standard Housing, Planning & Simon Coveney Caitríona Fitzpatrick €78,670 PO Standard (non PPC) Local Government Bob Jordan €88,936 PO Standard Jobs, Enterprise & Mary Mitchell O’Connor Alan Cantwell €91,624 PO Standard Innovation Jim McGrath €87,258 PO Standard (non-PPC) Public Expenditure & Paschal Donohoe Deborah Sweeney €82,587 PO Standard Reform Stephen Lynam €82,587 PO Standard Social Protection Leo Varadkar Transferred on previously Brian Murphy €99,370 approved rate Nick Miller €87,258 PO Standard (non-PPC) Tánaiste and Justice & Frances Fitzgerald Marion Mannion €93,297 PO Higher (non-PPC) Equality Stephen O'Shea €79,401 PO Standard Matthew Lynch €79,401 PO Standard Taoiseach and Defence Enda Kenny Mark Kennelly €156,380 Deputy Secretary Angela Flanagan €87,258 PO Standard (non-PPC) Paul O'Brien €87,258 PO Standard (non-PPC) Chief Whip Regina Doherty Mark O'Doherty €87,258 PO Standard (non-PPC) Minister of State Paul Kehoe Claire Mungovan €79,401 PO Standard John Coughlan €79,401 PO Standard Transport, Tourism & Shane Ross Aisling Dunne €79,401 PO Standard Sport Carol Hunt €79,401 PO Standard *Business case.