Vol. 537 No. 2
127 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of people employed in his Department's press office; the estimated annual budget of the office; the estimated cost of public relation consultancy engaged by his Department, showing the figures for 1998-2000; and the estimated costs for 2001. [15890/01]
There are currently six staff employed in the Department's press office. The current budget for the press office, excluding salaries, is IR£100,000.
No public relations costs were incurred by the Department during the years in question. Drury Communications were engaged under the terms of the Referendum Act, 1998, to provide information to the electorate in relation to the referendum on the Amsterdam Treaty. A management fee of IR£199,423 was paid to them. In addition, costs of IR£1,852,971 were paid through Drury Communications for the provision of services of various suppliers and sub-contractors which they engaged, for example, for advertising, administration, broadcasts, postage, printing, etc.
