Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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176. To ask the Taoiseach his Department's expenditure on media training in each of the years 2015 to 2025; the firms contracted to provide training; and the position or grade of those availing of training, for example, Minister, Secretary General, principal officer and so on. [37057/25]

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of the Taoiseach did not incur any expenditure on media training for office holders in the years 2015 to 2025.

The learning and development programme implemented by the Department of the Taoiseach includes training courses provided by the Institute of Public Administration (IPA) which is responsible for OneLearning - the learning and development system which provides training on the core skills and capabilities for the civil service.

The information requested by the Deputy in respect of expenditure on media training for employees of the Department of the Taoiseach is provided in the table below.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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177. To ask the Taoiseach his Department's expenditure on media consultancy in each of the years 2015 to 2025; the consultancy firms involved; and the nature of each contract, in tabular form. [37075/25]

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Expenditure by the Department of the Taoiseach on advice and support on media engagement during the period in question is set out in the table below.

Citizens’ Assemblies and the COVID-19 Evaluation operate independently of the Department of the Taoiseach but are funded from the Department’s Vote.

The Citizens’ Assemblies engaged Q4 Public Relations from 2017 to provide media liaison and communication services. This work included raising public awareness of the Assemblies' work; supporting communication and media outreach; and providing a press office service to engage with the media to respond to queries on the work of the Assemblies.

Expenditure by the Citizens' Assemblies on advice and support on media engagement provided by Q4 Public Relations during the period in question is set out in the table below.

In 2025, the COVID-19 Evaluation engaged Springboard Communications to provide media liaison and communications support services.

Expenditure to date by the COVID-19 Evaluation on advice and support on media engagement provided by Springboard Communications is set out in the table below.

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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178. To ask the Taoiseach the number of purchase orders processed by his Department in 2023 that were not included in the published reports of purchase orders over €20,000; the number of purchase orders excluded due to their value falling below the €20,000 threshold, and the total combined value of those purchase orders; and the number of purchase orders excluded because they related to transactions other than for goods or services, for example, grants-in-aid or reimbursements, in line with reporting conventions. [37240/25]

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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All procurement within the Department of the Taoiseach and the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) - the only body under the aegis of the Department - is conducted in accordance with applicable EU and national regulations and Office of Government Procurement (OGP) guidance.

In compliance with Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation requirements, relevant purchase orders processed by the Department with a value in excess of €20,000 are published by the Department on a quarterly basis.

In 2023, a total of 1,822 purchase orders that were below the €20,000 threshold were processed by the Department. In addition, there were 12 purchase orders that met or exceeded the €20,000 threshold and were excluded as they related to transactions such as grant payments, salary recoupments, etc.

The total expenditure by the Department on goods and services in 2023, as published in the Department’s 2023 Appropriation Account, amounted to €13.325 million. Of this, €8.774 million was included in the published reports of purchase orders with a value in excess of €20,000. The remaining balance of €4.551 million related to expenditure that either did not meet the value threshold for publication or related to excluded transactions.