Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 March 2018
527. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of staff assigned in her Department to the press office, public relations or communications roles in each year since 2015; the positions by staffing grade and designated role; when each new position came into existence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11697/18]
View answerMy Department does not have a designated Press Officer or stand-alone Press Office.
One of my appointed Special Advisors, Mr Jerry O'Connor, has special responsibility for communications. He is remunerated at a point on the Principal Officer scale. Mr O'Connor took up the role after my appointment in mid 2016.
Prior to that, a Special Advisor to my predecessor Dr James Reilly, Mr Mark Costigan, held a similar role.
There are currently two civil servants in my Department who typically service the day-to-day press office requirements of my Department's Communications and Corporate Governance Unit. One of these is an Executive Officer who has worked in the role since 2014.
A clerical officer was assigned to assist in the role in April 2017.
