Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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500. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his Department has undertaken procurement processes in respect of consultancy agencies, media or otherwise, to assist it with formulating or contributing to policy messaging on social media or videos relating to his departmental strategies or policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15395/19]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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In terms of social media channels, my Department maintains a single Twitter account and generally manages this on an ongoing basis without input or assistance from consultancies or other agencies.

My Department has two initiatives currently ongoing which have availed of professional assistance in terms of social media and video production.

The planned National Community Weekend in May will support communities to host events in their local area in order to strengthen community ties and help tackle the problem of social isolation. This national event is being promoted and supported through social media platforms with the assistance of an agency contracted for this purpose.  This agency was appointed by my Department following a competitive process run under public procurement rules.

My Department is also currently running a series of Rural Opportunity briefings, which are being delivered through regional events and social media messages.  The briefings seek to highlight the opportunities available to those in rural communities through the funding programmes provided across Government and to showcase some of the best examples of how funding has been used in order to inspire individuals and communities to take their own ideas or projects forward.  A video has been produced which features relevant case studies of communities and projects in rural areas which have been successfully delivered with the aid of funding supports.  The video case studies are being disseminated on social media with promotional impetus provided by an agency contracted for this purpose.  The companies involved in the video production and the social media promotion were both contracted on foot of a procurement process conducted under Office of Government Procurement guidelines.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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501. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way in which his departmental officials have been contributing to and taking part in Government of Ireland social media messages; the way in which they are co-ordinated in each of the policy areas of his Department; the Department that is the lead Department in respect of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15412/19]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My Department delivers its own public interest content through social media and on occasion helps to promote relevant messages and campaigns led by other Government Departments, for example, Brexit preparedness information and Project Ireland 2040 progress updates of interest.

My Department also shares relevant items featured on the MerrionStreet.ie website and Government or stakeholder social media accounts.

My Department is currently undertaking a series of Rural Opportunity briefings for communities, which are being delivered through regional events and sharing of information through social media.  The briefings seek to highlight the opportunities available to those in rural communities through the funding programmes provided across Government and to showcase some of the best examples of how funding has been used in order to inspire individuals and communities to take their own ideas or projects forward.

This initiative is being coordinated and led by my Department with input from other Government Departments and state agencies.