Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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616. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a panel has been established in her Department for communications officers; if a Civil Service position of head of communications or similar role or description has been appointed in her Department; if so, when the appointment occurred; the grade at which it occurred; the reason for same; the policy basis for same; the person that approved the appointment; her plans to make such an appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11718/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department is continuously engaging with its broad customer and stakeholder base to increase public awareness of its many schemes and services.

With this in mind, a dedicated Communications and Customer Services Unit exists within my Department whose role is to ensure information about the Departments schemes and its work is effectively communicated with customers and stakeholder using a wide range of communications channels. The unit also has responsibility for developing customer service policy for the Department.

The head of this unit, at Principal level, was appointed on the 22nd August 2016 following a Public Appointment Service open competition.

I can confirm that no panel for communication officers has been established in the Department.