Vol. 457 No. 8
87 Mr. Callely asked the Taoiseach if he will give a breakdown of the number of personnel in his Department and private firms contracted for public relations-media advice; the names and costs paid to private firms and consultants; the total cost incurred since his appointment; the total cost incurred by the Ministers of State at his Department; if this expenditure went out for tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16347/95]
The only information not given on the matters raised in a series of past questions, i.e. Questions Nos. 3 to 7 of 25 January 1995, 1 and 2 of 1 February 1995, 5 of 7 February 1995, 1 of 21 February 1995, 13 of 8 March 1995, 5 of 3 May 1995, 40 of 27 June 1995, 71 of 28 June 1995, 1 of 4 July 1995, 62 of 10 October 1995, 2 or 11 October 1995, 1 and 2 of 18 October 1995, 57 of 24 October 1995 and 34 of 25 October 1995 is that one assistant principal, three press officers, one clerical officer and three clerical assistants work in the Government Information Service, that the total cost incurred by my Department for public relations-media advice by private firms since my appointment as Taoiseach is £2,343 — of which a total of £2,080 was incurred by the Ministers of State at my Department.
88 Mr. Callely asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give a breakdown of the number of personnel in his Department and private firms contracted for public relations-media advice; the names and costs paid to private firms and consultants; the total cost incurred since his appointment; the total cost incurred by the Minister of State at his Department; if this expenditure went out for tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16358/95]
My Department has an information section and a press section at home and press officers at several Embassies abroad. Those working in these areas are permanent civil servants. The Department has no public relations budget as such and no person or firm has been retained to carry out this function.
Part of the funds provided for development education under subhead C of the Vote for International Co-operation is used to support press and information services to improve public awareness of Ireland's aid programme.
89 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Finance if he will give a breakdown of the number of personnel in his Department and private firms contracted for public relations-media advice; the names and costs paid to private firms and consultants; the total cost incurred since his appointment; the total cost incurred by the Minister of State at his Department; if this expenditure went out for tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16359/95]
The departmental press office has a staff of four, including the press officer.
The only firm contracted by the Department of Finance since my appointment as Minister was Bill O'Herlihy Communications. The cost of the contract was £2,900. No tendering procedure was undertaken because of the limited time available, the relatively small size of the assignment and the known expertise of the firm to provide the service required.
Neither of the Ministers of State at my Department has incurred any expenditure on public relations-media advice.
90 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health if he will give a breakdown of the number of personnel in his Department and private firms contracted for public relations-media advice; the names and costs paid to private firms and consultants; the total cost incurred since his appointment; the total cost incurred by the Minister of State at his Department; if this expenditure went out for tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16360/95]
Limerick East): There are three members of my Department working in the press office. These are part of the normal existing staff complement.
With regard to private firms engaged in public relations and media advice the information requested is as follows:
|
Company |
Cost |
|
£ |
|
|
Pat Heneghan, Public Relations Consultants |
1,028(VAT included) |
|
Carr Communications Ltd. |
21,175 paid to date (VAT included) |
