Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 21 Apr 1998

Vol. 489 No. 6

Written Answers. - Departmental Staff.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

576 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the number and names of persons working in a public relations or similar capacity, whether directly or on a consultancy basis, for her Department; the person or persons to whom each individual group reports; the precise function of each individual; the terms, conditions of employment and remuneration in each case; the Vote or subhead from which this remuneration is taken; the operating instructions, if any, given in each case and by whom; the outside agencies, if any, involved in this work; if so, the extent of this involvement; the extent and nature of back-up facilities, if any, available to these persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8037/98]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

My Department does not employ any public relations company either directly or on a consultancy basis.

However, I should point out that at present four civil servants in my Department are involved, inter alia, with the provision of information to the general public and to the media concerning the wide range of activities in which my Department is engaged. They also have responsibilities in relation to quality customer service and requests under the freedom of information legislation. In addition, Mr. Michael Ronayne will shortly join my staff on secondment for RTE to carry out the function of press adviser.