Bill O'Herlihy Communications Group was recently contracted to provide a public relations advisory service to my Department. The contract was awarded following an approach to five public relations firms inviting them to submit tenders. Requests for tender documentation were sent to the companies concerned on 14 June 1996, asking that the tenders be returned to the Department not later than 5 p.m. on 17 June 1996. Four of the five firms responded. Following consideration of the tenders, the contract was awarded. The procedures for the engagement of consultants were followed at all times in respect of the award of the contract. For commercial reasons, and in the interests of competitive tendering by Government Departments, I am not in a position to disclose details of the cost of the contract. However, I can assure the Deputy that the contract was awarded on the basis of the lowest most suitable tender and that the tender was very competitively priced. The Deputy will, of course, be aware that the details of this contract and payments made to the firm will be subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
The consultants are required to provide a public relations advice service to my Department on: the implementation of the White Paper "Charting our Education Future"; the ongoing Civil Service-wide Strategic Management Initiative; the preparation and promotion of legislation to give effect to the decisions conveyed in the White Paper on future educational policy and the continuation of the process of building enduring capabilities and competencies through in-career development programmes for staff in the education area.
