Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 October 2016
106. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has applied for permission to engage external public relations companies for the purposes of disseminating information on Government policy; the cost of each contract entered into; the name of the contractors; the duration of the contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31678/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has engaged outside public relations companies for the purposes of disseminating Government policy in the period since January 2015. The details relating to these contracts are set out in the following table: -
External Public Relations Companies Engaged since January 2015
|
Purpose |
Contractor Name |
Contract Duration |
Contract Cost (€) |
|
PR consultancy in respect of the Government Framework on Mortgage Arrears. Following the Government decision of 13 May 2015 on mortgage arrears, my Department was asked to coordinate the development and implementation, once approved, of a comprehensive communications strategy around the Government-funded and other available supports for borrowers in arrears, which would advise on the best source of information and advice depending on the requestor's specific circumstances. |
Carr Communications awarded the contract following a public procurement exercise. |
29 September 2015 until 30 June 2016 |
€110,154 ( in cl. VAT) |
For the sake of completeness, the Deputy may wish to note that my Department is also currently conducting a tender competition for the provision of Research, Design and Media Buy Services (Public awareness and customer switching campaign) in retail banking markets. The term of the contract is advertised for twelve months.
The Department's policy regarding engaging external public relations companies is to follow the relevant general public procurement rules and procedures.
