Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 5 Jul 2001

Vol. 540 No. 3

Written Answers. - Consultancy Contracts.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

375 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount paid to consultancy or public relations firms in the past 12 months in respect of the promotion of the work of the Minister or his office; the number of persons engaged in public relations or consultancy work on a full-time basis and on a part-time basis in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20864/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

My Department's press and information office performs a wide range of functions including dissemination of information in relation to the Department's schemes and programmes and responding to requests for information from the public and the media. This was supplemented by part-time consultancies mainly concerned with the Government's response to the ASTI dispute, in the amount of £48,000 plus VAT in the year to 30 April 2001.