Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has defended the establishment of a new public relations unit within his department, saying it has cost nothing to date.
The Strategic Communications Unit was set up after Mr Varadkar succeeded Enda Kenny and is tasked with communicating the message of the Government to the general public.
It has been strongly criticised by opposition leaders, who have alleged it will be used as to promote political propaganda.
Speaking in Dublin on Thursday, the Taoiseach said there had been no cost to establishing the unit.
“I believe good communication is important; good communication is a virtue and very often people say to me and they are right that the Government has not been very good at explaining to people what it happening,” he said.
“The Strategic Information Unit is being set up to better communicate to the public, taxpayers and citizens what the Government does on its behalf, how it spends taxpayers money and by Government I do not mean politicians of the Government, I mean the public service and sector as a whole.”
Two people are currently working there at present, marketing expert John Concannon and Andrea Pappin - who has previously headed up the Government's Brexit information service.
Mr Varadkar said they were both public servants who have been transferred to new positions. Mr Concannon is on an assistant secretary grade of between €122,313 and €139,728 while Ms Pappin is on an assistant principal higher grade of between €66, 457 to €81,924.
The Taoiseach said there will be some additional expenditure down the line and the scale of these costs would be made available.
Opposition leaders have criticised the unit claiming it will used for political purposes and could be used to promote Fine Gael activities.
Mr Varadkar said it would a contravention of the law to do so and pledged no office within the Department of the Taoiseach would be used for electoral purposes.
