Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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200. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of communications staff currently employed in his Department; the cost of these staff for 2022; the expected cost for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8714/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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At the end of January, there were 11 staff employed in the Press & Communications Division of my Department. The Division is responsible for press relations, social media engagement, event management, internal departmental communications, stakeholder engagement, behaviour change campaign development and support public consultations and citizen outreach programmes.

The costs for staff in the Press & Communications Division for 2022 was €473,152. Staff were recruited into the Division throughout 2022.

The expected costs for 2023 for 11 staff will be €628,092. This costing accounts for pay adjustments which are due under the Public Service Agreement “Building Momentum – A New Public Service Agreement 2021-2023”.