Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 29 May 2001

Vol. 537 No. 2

Written Answers. - Departmental Staff.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

190 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the number of people employed in his Department's press office; the estimated annual budget of the office; the estimated cost of public relations consultancy engaged by his Department, showing the figures for 1998-2000 and the estimated costs for 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15894/01]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

There are four people employed in my Department's press office. They are a press officer, employed on contract, and three permanent civil servants, two HEOs and one CO. The estimated administrative budget for the press office, exclusive of salaries for 2001, is £73,150. The following table details amounts expended by my Department in respect of public relations consultancy for the years 1998, 1999 and 2000.

Year	Office	Amount ofExpenditure
1998	National Treasury Management Agency	£42,200
1999	Euro Changeover Board of Ireland	£65,784.40
	National Treasury Management Agency	£80,200
2000	Euro Changeover Board of IrelandNational Treasury Management Agency	£35,223.14£10,400
	CSF Information Unit	£16,252.26
	Euro changeover Board of Ireland	£43,082.28

The following table details estimated public relations consultancy costs for my Department for 2001.

2001	Estimated Cost
National Treasury Management AgencyNDP/CSF Information UnitEuro Changeover Board of Ireland	£11,500£80,000£150,000