Paul McGrath
Question:141 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number and value of contracts awarded for public relations projects by his Department since June 2002. [33043/04]
View answerTuesday, 14 December 2004
Questions (120)
Written answers
My Department did not award contracts solely for public relations projects in the period mentioned by the Deputy. It did, however, award two contracts in the period which, while mainly for other purposes, involved a public relations element. One involved advertising expenditure, as well as public relations, for the e-tenders website, while the other involved project and event management, as well as public relations, for the informal ECOFIN. The amount paid to date in respect of public relations under the first of these contracts was €24,103, while the amount paid in respect of public relations under the other contract is estimated at €23,700.
The NDP-CSF information unit, which operates under the aegis of my Department and is part funded by the European Union, awarded one public relations contract in the period mentioned. The objective of this contract was to raise awareness and increase understanding of the national development plan and the Community Support Framework 2000-2006 as there is a legal requirement on member states to raise public awareness of the role of EU Structural Funds. The value of the contract awarded was €253,000 and €148,136 has been paid out on foot of it to date.