Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:15. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach the number of staff assigned to the Government Information Service. [39726/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 16 October 2018
Ceisteanna (15)
Freagraí scríofa
Following the review conducted by the Secretary General earlier in the year, it was agreed that the Department should revert to a reformed GIS model, with a smaller budget, less staff and a more limited role.
Accordingly, the budget has been been reduced by 50%. The staff numbers have been reduced by 4.
In further alignment with the Secretary General's report, the reformed GIS team now incorporates the Government Press Office, giving a total of 17 on the newly combined team.
The civil servants in the reformed Government Information Service come under the management of the Assistant Secretary for Corporate Affairs, while respecting the role of the Government Press Secretary and the Deputy and Assistant Government Press Secretaries in day-to-day management of press and communications.
The work of the reformed Government Information Service includes; the work of the Government Press Office, the digital team/merrionstreet.ie, central support services for other Departments, providing services to the media, managing media events and producing communications material across all platforms.
GIS is supporting the development of the single Government identity, the single web portal project, gov.ie and capacity building in communications across Government. GIS continues to have a co-ordinating and supporting role for national, cross-Government communications, as has always been the case, but such campaigns are being led and funded by the relevant line Department.
Questions Nos. 16 to 19, inclusive, resubmitted.