Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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429. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of communications staff currently employed in her Department; the cost of them for 2022; the expected cost for 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8700/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently 9 fulltime equivalent posts assigned to my Department’s Communications Unit, who are responsible for a range of duties across different aspects of communications including press office and digital media. The annual staffing cost of the Unit in 2022 was approximately €420,000and the expected annual cost for 2023 is approximately €500,000.

[1] It should be noted that there were a number of staff changes in the Unit during 2022, both departures and assignments, and so the Unit incurred less than full year salary costs in respect of each post for the year. The estimated salary costs in respect of these posts for 2023 reflects full year costs for all posts.