Vol. 568 No. 6
165 Mr. Gilmore asked the Taoiseach the current number of staff, broken down by grade, employed in the press office in respect of his office and the office of each Minister of State within his Department; the current amount paid in respect of each office in terms of salary, overtime and expenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17134/03]
The current number of staff employed in the Government press office and the Government Information Service broken down by grade is as follows: Government press secretary; deputy Government press secretary; four Government press officers – HEO grade; one press and information officer – AP grade; one executive officer; two clerical officers; and one personal assistant.
The current amount spent on salaries on an annual basis for the Government press office is €305,243 – this includes an on call allowance for press officers – and for the Government Information Service is €191,169.
The total cost for overtime and expenses – travel and subsistence, newspapers, taxi costs and official entertainment – since January 2003 to date for the Government press office is €29,647.15 and for the Government Information Service is €2,700.96.
No press personnel are employed by the Ministers of State in my Department.
The Government press office and Government Information Service provide an information service on Government policy to the public through the national and international media on behalf of myself, my Department and the Government.
The Government press office issues press releases and speeches to the media, briefs political correspondents, organises photo calls, information campaigns and ministerial representation on current affairs programmes. The Government press office also disseminates information to the domestic and international media on the web and via email. The Government press office, in conjunction with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Government Information Service, organises and manages the media aspects of State visits and major State occasions. Staff of the Government press office and departmental press officers are available after hours and at weekends to answer media queries.
