Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 May 2001

Vol. 537 No. 2

Written Answers. - Departmental Staff.

Richard Bruton

Question:

132 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Public Enterprise 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. [15891/01]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

A total of five people are employed in my Department's press and information office, including two on a jobsharing basis. The role of the press and information office is to handle media inquiries; liaise with local, national and international media; provide a point of first contact with the public; ensure the public have access to information pertaining to the Department's role in transport, energy and communications; and ensure that internationally the role, functions and policy of the Department are clearly understood. The estimated annual cost of the office is £148,000.

The main public relations expenditure incurred by my Department in the years in question is as follows.

Drury Communications were appointed in April 2000 as a member of an advisory team engaged to assist in preparations for the initial public offering, IPO, of shares in Aer Lingus. Expenditure of £66,360, including expenses but excluding VAT, has been paid to date. It is not possible to estimate the cost for 2001 as it will depend on the timing of the Aer Lingus IPO.

The Irish Energy Centre, funded from my Department's Vote, engaged in public relations expenditure in respect of areas of its work programme, such as annual self-audit, ‘Energy Show', ‘Energy Awareness Week', ‘Boiler Awards', ‘Home Energy Show' in 1998 and ‘Schools' Programme'. The amounts spent were as follows:

1998 Edelman Public Relations Worldwide	£42,523
1998 Gilmore Communications	£3,000
2000 Edelman Public Relations Worldwide	£20,513
2001 estimated expenditure	£53,000

In addition, the Irish Energy Centre spent £4,915 in 2000 on corporate public relations work carried out by Edelman Public Relations Worldwide.

Other public relations expenditure by my Department in 2001 is as follows: CBC were engaged at a cost of £864 in respect of professional communications consultancy services in relation to advice on the National Emergency Plan for Nuclear Accidents.

It is estimated that £100,000 – £150,000 will be spent on professional communications consultancy services in relation to advice on radon remediation grant scheme and on the launch of that scheme later in 2001.