Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 June 2013
214. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will detail in tabular form, the names of all external public relations, communications consultants and organisations used by her Department since 9 March 2011; the details of the services supplied by each; the expenditure on each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28817/13]
View answerThe Department's press office deals with all media queries and public relations matters. No money has been spent by my Department on public relations consultancy during the period in question. Services were supplied by four companies during the development of the new corporate identity for Intreo, the new service provided by the Department which integrates employment and benefits payments. A particular effort was made to keep costs down during the development of the new identity, through procuring services via public tender from various suppliers to ensure cost effectiveness. The initial work on the development of the identity and new name and logo of the new service was carried out by Creative Inc. Following a separate tender, work on the implementation of the new name and identity in the Department’s offices was carried out by Language Ltd. Photographic images for Intreo were also procured from iStock and Getty Images. The services supplied by all four companies came to a total of €56,187.93, inclusive of VAT. Separately, following a procurement process, Carr Communications provided communications training in 2012 to senior managers and officials in the Department who speak at public fora and engage with the media. The total cost inclusive of VAT was €5,150.00.
