Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 October 2018
645. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the communications, press and public relations budget allocated to her Department for 2018; the way in which it is being spent; if it is behind or ahead of profile; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39368/18]
View answer648. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount spent by her Department on third party public relations advice, communications advice, online advertising and public awareness campaigns to date in 2018, by month and company engaged in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39635/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 645 and 648 together.
There is no specific allocation within my Department‘s Vote for communications, press and public relations. These functions are primarily carried out by the Department’s Press & Information Office, the costs of which are met from my Department’s Administrative Budget in the usual manner.
My Department also engages in specifically focused communications campaigns from time to time. The Culture Ireland Unit has earlier this year engaged Mr. Nik Quaife on a 1 year contract for the provision of services including a communications strategy for its GB18 programme, to celebrate and renew Ireland’s cultural relationship with Britain. The total value of this contract is €50,000, with expenditure to date of €26,800.
The Creative Ireland Programme undertakes targeted citizen engagement programmes to get people involved in cultural and creative activity right across the country. I am advised that approximately €400,000 has been allocated from the Creative Ireland Programme Budget in 2018 in relation to public engagement and commissioning digital content. Expenditure to date in this regard is in the order of €177,000. MB Arts International have been engaged on a two year contract to provide a range of contract services including citizen engagement and building partnerships. Expenditure to date in this regard is €58,000.
The above mentioned expenditure is summarized in the following table.
|
Payee |
Subject |
Expenditure to Date |
|
Nik Quaife |
GB18 |
€26,800 |
|
Mindshare |
Cruinniú na nÓg |
€49,000 |
|
Big O |
Digital Content for Creative Ireland Website and other platforms |
€109,000 |
|
MB Art International |
Services to Creative Ireland Programme including citizen engagement, building partnerships |
€58,000 |
As the Deputy will appreciate, the engagement of external groups for the provision of specialised services, including public relations firms, is dependent on a number of factors, including the expertise and resources available within my Department. In that context, value for money is at all times a critical consideration. The relevant public procurement procedures were applied in the placing of all external contracts referred to above.
