Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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476. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she 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 her Department; if so, the cost of same; and the name of the social media platforms being monitored. [25781/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Education has not engaged an outside company to  conduct online or social media monitoring.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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477. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if officials in her Department are tasked with conducting online and social media monitoring and completing reports on social media coverage of her Department and her ministerial activities; if so, the number of staff involved; the respective grades of each; the estimated working hours committed to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25799/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As part of its communications programme the Department listens to views from all stakeholders. One way these are considered is by having regard to social media commentary on matters within the remit of the Department. 

The Department's communications unit regularly reviews commentary related to the Department's Twitter account and matters arising from the Department's work, with a view to informing where more or better communication can be provided by the Department. This is done by a clerical officer in the Department as a small portion of their daily work, amounting to approximately 20 hours per month.