Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 February 2018
137. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he, his officials or advisers have had meetings with the strategic communication unit since it was set up; the issues that were discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6535/18]
View answerI attended a meeting with the Strategic Communication Unit on 29 September 2017 at my Department's headquarters in Marlborough Street. The purpose of the meeting was to appraise me and officials on the remit of the Unit which will streamline communications and keep the public informed of major cross Governmental campaigns.
The Government Strategic Communications project is part of the Civil Service Renewal Programme. The mechanism for oversight is through the Civil Service management Board supported by a sub group of Secretaries General from the Civil Service Management Board. The group meet at regular intervals to oversee the work of the Strategic Communications Unit. An Assistant Secretary Delivery team has also been established to lead the implementation of activities in their own Departments. This delivery team has met on two occasions and will meet on a bi-monthly basis to advance the work across Government Departments. An Assistant Secretary from this Department has been nominated to this group and has attended the two meetings to date.
Three senior officials of my Department also attended a meeting with members of the Unit on 24 January 2018 to receive an update on the work of the Unit particularly in relation to developments on the single unified Government of Ireland identity programme and the migration of Government Department websites to one new portal for government.
