There are currently six staff employed in the Department's press office. The current budget for the press office, excluding salaries, is IR£100,000.
No public relations costs were incurred by the Department during the years in question. Drury Communications were engaged under the terms of the Referendum Act, 1998, to provide information to the electorate in relation to the referendum on the Amsterdam Treaty. A management fee of IR£199,423 was paid to them. In addition, costs of IR£1,852,971 were paid through Drury Communications for the provision of services of various suppliers and sub-contractors which they engaged, for example, for advertising, administration, broadcasts, postage, printing, etc.