Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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98. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff that worked in his Department’s communications and press office in each of the years 2019 to 2024; and the grade of each staff member. [41162/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Communications Unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs comprises the following teams: Press Relations, Public Diplomacy and Content, Multimedia and Digital, Internal Communications, Irish Aid Communications, and Digital Ireland House (Ireland.ie). Unique to the Department of Foreign Affairs is that, in addition to servicing the communication needs of DFA headquarters, the Unit also provides communications guidance and support for more than 100 embassies, consulates and multilateral missions globally. This includes areas such as crisis communications, social media management, graphic design, website management and press relations support. DFA and its mission network manage over 305 social media channels across multiple platforms.

The number of staff working in the Department’s Communications Unit as at 31 July for each year requested is presented below in tabular form. A small number of staff work part-time.