Written Answers. - Public Relations Contracts.
Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:
275
Mr. J. O'Keeffe
asked the
Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs
the amount of money spent by his Department and any agencies under its aegis on public relations, press and information activities, including staff costs and payments to consultants.
[4063/00]
No payments were made by my Department to consultants in respect of public relations or information services during 1999.
Given the nature and extent of this Department's work, dealing with 800,000 payments per week affecting 1.5 million people, much effort is required in the dissemination of information. In recent years there has beenin situ in the Department a central information unit and press office which are responsible in this regard. About £600,000 was spent on the printing of information leaflets, booklets and application forms for use in connection with the Department's schemes. Approximately £450,000 is paid in respect of salaries and related costs for staff in the central information unit and press office. The above figure does not include the cost of staff throughout the Department who may provide information at local level as part of their normal administrative duties. Approximately £750,000 is spent in the design and distribution of information leaflets and other materials, attendance at exhibitions and relevant information events, press, television and radio advertising, and miscellaneous expenses arising from the provision of information for customers and other organisations.
Relevant expenditure by agencies under the aegis of my Department was as follows. The National Social Service Board spent approximately £875,000 on salaries and related costs during 1999 in respect of staff employed directly by the organisation. It also provided £1,769,000 towards the operating costs, including staff costs where relevant, of 85 citizen information centres throughout the country. Further costs included £55,000 for publicity and promotion of CIC services at local level, £140,000 for research and production of information publications, £100,000 towards the development of a new telephone information service pilot project, and £128,000 in the form of grants to other organisations and groups for approved information projects. A total of £9,870 was paid to consultants engaged in the production and launch of the annual report and in the preparation of a national conference.
In the case of Pensions Board, relevant expenditure included £21,000 for staff costs and £3,300 for advertising and publicity. A further £18,000 was paid to consultants in respect of public relations services.
In the case of the Combat Poverty Agency, relevant expenditure on public relations, press and information activities, including staff costs and payments to consultants, was £484,000. This figure is comprised of £100,000 for salaries and related costs, approximately £362,000 for operating costs of the information services, including publications, and £22,000 paid to consultants in respect of public relations and information services provided during 1999.
