Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2024
391. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff that worked in her Department’s communications and press office in each of the years 2019 to 2024; and the grade of each staff member. [41169/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are elements of communications to most roles in my Department, given the millions of individual interactions every year between the staff of the Department and the people they serve.
The Unit whose function relates to supporting corporate communications is the Communications and Press Office. Their focus is to ensure the provision of timely information on the range of services and supports available. This unit includes several cross functional teams which are responsible for a broad range of tasks:
• press responses and media relations,
• communications planning and campaigns,
• graphic design,
• event organisation,
• social media,
• Plain English guidance for content across the Department,
• management of the department's web presence on gov.ie /dsp and
• supporting internal communications for over 7,000 staff.
There are currently 23 full-time equivalent staff working across the Communications Unit and Press Office, as outlined below, together with details of staff numbers from 2019 to 2024 inclusive.
|
- |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Principal Officer |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Assistant Principal |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
4 |
5 |
6 |
4.8 |
5.8 |
6.8 |
|
Executive Officer |
8 |
8.95 |
10 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
|
Administrative Officer |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Clerical Officer |
4.6 |
3.6 |
2.6 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
TOTAL |
21.6 |
21.55 |
22.6 |
19.8 |
21.8 |
22.8 |
