Vol. 537 No. 2
414 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of people employed in his Department's press office; the estimated annual budget of the office; the estimated cost of public relations consultancy engaged by his Department, showing the figures for 1998-2000 and the estimated costs for 2001. [15901/01]
There are nine secretarial and administrative civil servants employed in my Department's press and information office. The office does not have its own specific budget. No expenditure was incurred on public relations consultancy in 1998; £15,840 was expended in 2000 and £57,840 to date in 2001. The sums expended in 2000 and 2001 include payments to a consultancy firm which was commissioned by my Department to provide advice on a range of issues, including advice on the organisation, role and function of the press and information office and issues relating to the ASTI dispute. They also advised the interdepartmental committee which was convened at the request of the Government to consider strategy in relation to the ASTI dispute.
