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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 2

Written Answers. - Departmental Expenditure.

Marian Harkin

Question:

332 Ms Harkin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number and cost of personnel involved in his Department in media, media marketing and public relations activities, including external public relations and media monitoring services in the periods 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2001, 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002, and 1 January 2003 to date. [4005/03]

The details in relation to my Department's press office are as follows:

Number of staff

2001

406,183.99

4.5

2002

331,917.00

5

2003

20,023.59

5

The increased number of staff in 2002 reflects the absorption of press functions in relation to heritage matters following the transfer of responsibility for these to my Department.
Since July 2002 a communications firm has been retained to provide advice and assistance on a range of interactions between my Department and the public and media. The cost of this service was €47,197.00 in 2002 and €9,438.00 in 2003 to date. In addition, a number of other consultancy firms are employed from time to time for a range of functions. These include promoting awareness of important issues relating to my Department's function, fulfilling publicity and information requirements under cohesion fund regulations, providing media monitoring services and providing other advice or assistance as required. The costs of these services were:

2001

1,328,652.83

2002

2,243,242.25

2003 to date

3,651.57

Marian Harkin

Question:

333 Ms Harkin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the expenditure by his Department on photographic services in the periods 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2001, 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002, and 1 January 2003 to date. [4020/03]

The total amount spent by my Department on photographic services in the periods outlined above are as follows: €10,257 in 2001; €18,017 in 2002; and €1,827 in 2003.

Marian Harkin

Question:

334 Ms Harkin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the amount of money spent on media advertising in the periods 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2001, 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002, and 1 January 2003 to date. [4035/03]

A total of €3,683,694 was spent by my Department on media advertising in the periods 1 January 2001-31 December 2001, 1 January 2002-31 December 2002 and 1 January 2003 to date. A breakdown of this expenditure for each year in question is as follows:

Year

Expenditure

2001

1,980,130

2002

1,633,297

2003

70,267

My Department has placed numerous advertisements since January 2001, mainly on foot of statutory notification requirements. There has also been a range of advertising campaigns across the whole media spectrum over the period in question to highlight issues of relevance to my Department. The Department also funds the operations of ENFO, the environmental information service. ENFO provides an authoritative source of factual information on the environment and sustainable lifestyles. This is achieved,inter alia, through providing access to a drop-in centre, a library, exhibitions, leaflets, CDs and videos.
The Department has had responsibility for heritage functions since June 2002. While some general advertising costs in relation to these are included in the above expenditure figures, other advertising costs were charged to individual heritage projects and programmes and have not been included in the above figures.
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