Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 12 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 2

Written Answers. - Departmental Staff.

Marian Harkin

Ceist:

245 Ms Harkin asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number and cost of personnel involved in his Department in media, media marketing and public relations activities, including external public relations and media monitoring services in the periods 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2001, 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002, and 1 January 2003 to date. [4000/03]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. D. Ahern)

The information which the Deputy requested in relation to the Department's media and information unit is outlined in the following table:

Year	Number of Staff	Cost in €	Total in €
2001	1 Media Adviser	44,951	153,302
	1 Press Officer	44,359
	4 Clerical Officers	63,992
2002	1 Media Adviser	70,089	193,282
	1 Press Officer	44,197
	4 Clerical Officers	78,996
2003	1 Media Adviser	12,568	28,223
	1 Press Officer	5,898
	3 Clerical Officers	9,757

The unit handles all media, media marketing, public relations activities and information matters. The current media adviser in my Department is not a civil servant.