Taoiseach Brian Cowen is today defending a wage bill of more than €800,000 a year for special advisors to him.
Mr Cowen told the Dáil that six special advisors cost the taxpayer €820,000 a year, one advisor less than in 2009.
“I think that anyone who would be knowledgeable in the area of the Department of the Taoiseach would recognise that there is a need for advisors to assist in relation to all the work that has to be done across Government,” he said.