Vol. 537 No. 2
112 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people employed in her Department's press office; the estimated annual budget of the office; the estimated cost of public relation consultancy engaged by her Department, showing the figures for 1998, 2000; and the estimated costs for 2001. [15888/01]
The press office of my Department is staffed by five civil servants; one principal officer who is also responsible for the Department's information section, telephone service and library, one HEO, one EO, two clerical officers.
The press office does not have a separate budget within the vote of my Department. However, the estimated cost of running the press office in 2001 is £161,500 which includes all cost readily identifiable as being attributable to the work of the office such as salaries, photography and fax service. Other general overheads including light, heat, mobile and general communications come within the overall budget of my Department and are not apportioned between individual divisions or sections.
The press office has not used any public relations consultancy firms during the period referred to by the Deputy.
