asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount of money provided in 1988 and 1989 for (1) press and information activities and (2) public relations; and to whom this money is payable.
Written Answers. - Information Services.
141.
A sum of £540,000 was provided for in 1988 for press and information services in the Department. This included a special once-off allocation of £260,000 to advertise the extension of PRSI to the self-employed.
The bulk of this money is payable to: McConnells Advertising Services Limited (£450,000 approx.); Brindley Advertising Limited (£40,000 approx.); and Jon Chandler Design Studio (£25,000 approx.). The balance is payable to a large number of other organisations for services provided for the Department in the press and information field.
The amount provided in 1988 for public relations on matters relating to the operation of the Department's schemes is £17,000 of which £12,500 is payable to Walshe Public Relations Limited.
The figures underlying the abridged Estimates Volume for 1989 include amounts of £384,000 and £16,020 for press and information activities and for public relations respectively. It is not possible to state to whom this money will be payable in 1989 as no commitments have yet been entered into for next year.