Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

There has been no increase in the number of staff currently working in the Government Information Service. The number of staff in the GIS, which includes the Government press office, the communications office and the Government's news website Merrionstreet.ie is 19, 13 of whom are civil servants.

There are two journalism graduates on contract and the remaining four, which include the outgoing Government press secretary, who is staying for a short period of transition, are political appointees. They are broken down as follows: the Government press secretary, the deputy Government press secretary, an assistant Government press secretary, five press officers, a press and information officer and seven administrative-clerical staff.

The Government press office and the Government Information Service provide an information service on Government policy to the public through the national and international media on behalf of myself, my Department and the Government. It also promotes a co-ordinated approach to media matters across all Departments.

The Government press office and the Government Information Service, in conjunction with the Department of Foreign Affairs, organises and manages the media aspects of State visits and major State occasions. Staff in the Government press office and departmental press officers are available after hours and at weekends to answer media queries.

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