Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of people employed to handle communications within the Health Service Executive and her Department including the grade and number of staff employed. [16918/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The functions of Press and Communications Office in my Department include engagement with the media on behalf of my Department as well as internal sections in relation to media enquiries, launches and press releases. It also includes responsibility for the maintenance of the Department's internet and intranet as well as ongoing liaison with other government departments and agencies. The number assigned to the office is 5.6 wholetime equivalents and the grade breakdown is as follows:

1 Assistant Principal

2 Higher Executive Officers

2.6 Executive Officers

One of the special advisors in my Department also acts as a media advisor. A Principal Officer (equivalent) and an Executive Officer have, as part of a very wide brief, specific responsibilities for communications within the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

The information in relation to HSE is a service matter and has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.