Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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442. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has engaged a third-party company to date in 2021 to conduct online and or social media monitoring and-or provide reports on social media coverage of his Department; if so, the cost of same; and the name of the social media platforms being monitored. [25780/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department engages the company Truehawk Media for media monitoring to include print, broadcast, online and Twitter, and provide reports as required.

The cost for complete service to include social media, print, online and broadcast is €798.27 per month inclusive of VAT.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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443. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if officials in his Department are tasked with conducting online and social media monitoring and completing reports on social media coverage of his Department and his Ministerial activities; if so, the number of staff involved; the respective grades of each; the estimated working hours committed to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25798/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department currently has a communications specialist at Higher Executive Officer grade.  As part of his role he is tasked with monitoring and completing reports on social media coverage of my Department and Ministerial activities.

This official spends between 3 and 5 working hours per week on these activities.