Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Dec 1997

Vol. 485 No. 2

Written Answers. - Media Monitoring Unit.

Phil Hogan

Question:

65 Mr. Hogan asked the Taoiseach the role of the media monitoring unit in his Department; the number of staff employed therein; the total cost involved; the contribution of this unit to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23008/97]

The Taoiseach

It is assumed the Deputy is referring to the communications unit which is part of the Government Information Service in the Department of the Taoiseach. The role of the Government Information Service has been expanded to enable it to improve its service to the public by providing additional services and backup facilities to Departments. To this end a communications unit has been established which enables the Government Information Service to provide a comprehensive information service to Ministers and their Departments on Government policy initiatives and developments, and alerts them to any problems which may arise in relation to their implementation. In this way Departments will be able to provide a better service to the public.

There are six civil servants on secondment from Departments and one non-established person employed in the unit. Three of the staff are employed at executive officer grade and three of the staff are employed at clerical grade. As the staff are on secondment their salaries are met by their parent Departments. Any overtime/shift allowances, etc, are met by the Department of the Taoiseach and included in the estimated running costs for 1997. The manager's salary is £30,400 and is paid by the Department of the Taoiseach.

The estimated initial set up cost is £26,055, with running costs to the end of 1997 of approximately £8,000. The work of the communications unit ensures that Departments are eliminating the use of external companies and no longer duplicate work such as transcripts, tapes etc, thereby saving Departments considerable costs.