Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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317. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government 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. [8707/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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There are 13 staff working in my Department’s Communications Team. The team works on a cross-functional and collaborative basis to manage, co-ordinate and develop the Department’s external communications and media relations functions.

They also provide communications expertise, advice and support to colleagues in Business Units; develop and maintain the content and presentation of the Department’s online and social media platforms; manage and develop stakeholder relationships with other Departments as well as agencies under the aegis of my own Department.

In addition they design, develop and deliver public information campaigns to raise awareness of supports and services available; provide an effective internal communications service; manage the Department’s customer relations through the Quality Customer Service system and provide an internal publishing advice and desktop publishing service for the Department.

A breakdown of these staff by grade is set out in the table below.