Departmental Consultations

Tuesday, 1 October 2024

Ceisteanna (318)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

318. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she, her special advisory teams, or senior officials have consulted with, received briefings or sought advice from an external communications expert or communications consultancy company, or a public relations or public affairs company, in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; the costs associated with those interactions; the names of those that have been engaged with; the subject matter or topics the engagements related to, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39140/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The Department of Social Protection has not engaged or paid for external communications experts or firms to provide any services to the Minister or her special advisory teams.

In 2023, my Department engaged a course provider to provide training to senior officials to develop their communication skills, details of which are included in the following table:

Year	Course Provider	No. of Staff who received training	Total Cost
2023	The Communications Clinic	37	€4,070

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.