Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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106. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the amount his Department has spent on social media training and consultancy in each of the years 2011 to 2016. [18169/18]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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107. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if training has been delivered in his Department on the use of social media; the frequency and cost of this training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18205/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 107 together.

There has been no training delivered on the use of social media in my Department and and no costs have been incurred on social media training or consultancy between 2011 and 2016. However, during this period, staff in my Department attended the following seminars:

- Social Media in Government and The Public Sector - two staff attended on 5 November 2011, total cost €255.

- Social Media Law - two staff attended on 18 February 2014, total cost €130.

In addition one member of staff pursued a Diploma in Public Relations and Social Media by distance learning during 2015, at a cost of €995.

All new members of staff in my Department attend a half-day induction programme. As part of this programme, staff members are informed of their responsibilities under the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviours, including a discussion on the appropriate use of social media in the context of their work and their obligations as civil servants.