Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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215. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government 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. [37043/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Media and communications training is vital for senior officials who have an important role in explaining the valuable work of the Department to key stakeholder groups. These stakeholder groups may, from time to time, include the media, in the form of briefings, supporting the minister at press conferences, and public events. This training has, to date, primarily been targeted at senior manager level such as Principal Officers. In some instances, Assistant Principals with subject matter expertise may avail of such training, in the event that their expertise is required to support briefings and public communication.

The table below sets out overall expenditure in my Department since 2019. As my Department has been reconfigured on several occasions since 2012, the information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. My Department has gathered the information requested covering the period since the formation of the previous and current Government and this is set out below by year.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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216. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his Department's expenditure on media consultancy in each of the years 2015 to 2025; and the consultancy firms involved; and the nature of each contract, in tabular form. [37061/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has a dedicated communications and media relations function who manage public relations and media queries, alongside digital marketing, campaigns, events, and internal communications. My Department may occasionally engage external expertise in media consultancy where specialist or extensive support is required.

As my Department has been reconfigured on several occasions since 2015, the information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. My Department has gathered the information requested covering the period since the formation of the previous and current Government and this is set out below by year.