Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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84. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount that his Department has spent on social media training and consultancy in each year since 2016. [14569/18]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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85. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if training has been delivered in his Department on the use of social media (details supplied); the frequency and cost of this training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14585/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 85 together.

The Training needs of my Department are identified as part of the annual goal setting phase of the Performance Management Development System (PMDS). They are then analysed and necessary training is provided in a number of areas including social media. In-house expertise is used wherever possible and training on the use of social media is generally delivered by the Communications Unit in my Department at no additional cost.

The information requested by the Deputy regarding training that has been delivered on the use of social media including the amount spent on social media training and consultancy since 2016 is set out in the table. However, from time to time the Department’s 80 missions overseas may incur modest miscellaneous expenses in relation to social media training.