The Government determined that the national spatial strategy should be informed by extensive consultations with organisations, groups and members of the public throughout the country. In June 2000, my Department accordingly invited 16 firms to tender for a consultancy contract to assist in devising and implementing the NSS communications campaign, including a range of marketing and advertising initiatives; to promote awareness and interest in the NSS; to disseminate information and identify and engage the target audience for the consultation process; and to support that process through organising consultation forums at regional level at various stages during the strategy's preparation.
In response to my Department's request for tenders, five were received, and three companies which submitted tenders were interviewed. The tender submitted by Drury Communications was selected on the basis that it best met the relevant selection criteria as set out in the request for tenders. On an hourly and monthly basis that tender was also the lowest.
A steering group, which included the person then appointed as the Department's communications co-ordinator, was established by the Department to oversee the work of the consultants. The consultants were required to work closely with and report regularly to the Department and to liaise on an ongoing basis with the then communications co-ordinator.
The contract with Drury Communications, originally of nine months' duration, contained an option for its extension for the period up to and including 31 December 2001, provided that the contractor's performance was satisfactory in all respects. The contract was extended for that period and subsequently, by agreement, on several occasions covering the period up to the end of December 2002, shortly after the NSS was published. The total amount paid to Drury Communications for the contract covering a period of two and half years was €383,556.85.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House
During the run-up to the finalisation and launch of the NSS, it was decided that the communications campaign should be intensified considerably. Additional work was initiated on the presentation aspects of the strategy, media briefings, publicity and other briefing material. A communications consultant, who had been appointed in July 2002 under a more general contract to assist the Minister and the Department on strategic communications matters, participated actively in that work and attended related team meetings. That consultancy input was provided under the general terms of the contract involved and was not specifically procured regarding the NSS.
