I propose to take Questions Nos. 944, 946, 948, 953, 954 and 957 together.
In line with Section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997 governing the appointment and role of Special Advisers, I have appointed an Adviser as Press and Information Officer in my Department. The Officer is employed at Principal Officer level and receives a salary of €93,363 gross per annum. The role of the Officer includes:
Departmental Press and Information Officer, including provision and oversight of press information and liaison for Minister and Ministers of State;
liaison, on Ministers' behalf, with Government Press Office;
liaison, on Ministers' behalf, with the Deputy Government Press Secretary;
adviser on external communications and publicity on behalf of the Ministers and the Department.
The Press and Information Officer is supported in his role by three civil servants — one Higher Executive Officer, one Executive Officer and one Clerical Officer.
Summaries of breaking news stories are provided to the Department's Press Office electronically throughout the day by the Government Information Service. I am alerted, as necessary, in relation to any items of relevance to my Department.
As part of the work undertaken in the Press Office, a daily news cuttings service is made available to all staff. This service is provided by the Press Office and is accessible to all staff via the Department's intranet. The cost of the licence to provide the service is just under €1300 (incl. VAT) per annum. In addition, regional cuttings are provided on a weekly basis by News Access Ltd. These are circulated to the Department's senior management team, the Minister's and the Ministers of State's Offices. The cost of the service is €175/week (excl. VAT).
The Press and Information Officer or one of the civil servants supporting the Officer usually accompanies the Minister on official visits. It is normal practice for a member of the Press Office to maintain contact with the Minister as necessary throughout the day.
A Press and Information Officer has been appointed as Special Adviser within the Department since June 2002 at Principal Officer level. Between 1997 and 2002 the Press and Information Officer function was undertaken by a civil servant employed at Assistant Principal Officer level within the Department. In addition, a Communications Coordinator was appointed as Special Adviser to the Minister from October 1999 to June 2002 at Assistant Principal Officer level.