Consultancy Contracts.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 February 2005

Thursday, 17 February 2005

Ceisteanna (118)

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

118 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number, cost and status of all public relations consultancies, contracts or procurements entered into by or on behalf of his Department or its agents or agencies in the past three years; the terms of reference in each such appointment; the person to whom such persons report and from whom they receive instructions; if any such person or group had any previous contracts, commitments or employment with either of the Government parties. [5509/05]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Éamon Ó Cuív)

My Department has not directly engaged any public relations consultants nor entered into any public relations contracts or procurements since its establishment in June 2002.

During this period, three bodies under the aegis of my Department — the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, the Western Development Commission and Údarás na Gaeltachta — have engaged public relations consultants. The number of consultancies in this regard are as follows: one in the case of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs; eight in the case of the Western Development Commission; and one in the case of Údarás na Gaeltachta. The details sought by the Deputy are given in the following appendix.

Name of Body	Year	Consultant	Terms of Reference	Status	Reporting to	Cost	Any previous contracts, commitments or employment with either of the Government Parties
						€
National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD)	2002-04	Montague Communications	To assist the NACD in the preparation, the dissemination of information and the creation of active communication channels with its wide and varied audience.	Complete	Ms Máiread Lyons Director NACD	143, 072	This is not known. This was not part of the criteria for awarding the contract and therefore was not assessed.
The Western Development Commission (WDC)	2002	Colman Garrihy, Editoral Services	Promotion of the Western Investment Fund (WIF) & WDC Newsletter	Complete	Gillian Buckley	4,250	As above.
	2002	Anne Burg, Media relations	Launch of ‘Update on Telecommunications Report’ and press releases	Complete	Dr Pat O’Hara	1,337	As above.
	2002	Theresa Judge	Press release and editing of Annual Report	Complete	Dr Pat O’Hara	800	As above.
	2003	Colman Garrihy, Editoral Services	WIF Promotion (editorial work for newspapers)	Complete	John Allen	3,598	As above.
	2003	Sarah Marriot	Press Release/WDC Newsletter/Editing of Annual Report	Complete	Lisa McAlister	2,020	As above.
	2003	Annette Kearney, Brighthouse Services	Defining the WDC’s Market Position and Mission and assessing the WDC’s Communications oppurtunities (surveys and audit) also launch of Towns Report including press releases.	Complete	Lisa McAllister	16,967	As above.
	2004	Annette Kearney, Brighthouse Services	Development of WDC Communications Strategy, launch of ‘Catch the Wind’ Report and press releases.	Complete	Lisa McAllister	22,421	As above.
	2004	The Chemistry Group	‘Look West’ Promotional Campaign	Ongoing	Dr Pat O’Hara	18,150	As above.
Údarás na Gaeltachta	2004	Media Group in co-operation with the Chemistry Group	To prepare and implement an Irish Language awareness campaign, specifically to advise the parents of young children (0-5 years of age) as well as expectant parents, living in the Gaeltacht, of the advantages of choosing and using the Irish language as the household language and to encourage them accordingly.	Complete	Pádraig Ó hAoláin — Chair of working group of officials from Údarás, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and TG4	300,000	This is not known. This was not part of the criteria for awarding the contract and therefore was not assessed.