Departmental Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2018

Tuesday, 13 February 2018

Ceisteanna (663)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

663. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount spent by his Department on photography by photographer and-or agency, public relations or communications advice external to the media officers of his Department, by agency; the use of public relations or communications advice by an agency fully funded by his Department by agency and month, in tabular form since 1 January 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6751/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

My Department did not incur any expenditure on external agency, public relations or communications advice since 1 January 2016. The engagement of external expertise is generally only considered where the issues involved require expert skills or capabilities that are not readily available within my Department. Press and Public Relations are undertaken by my Department’s Press Office.

In addition, my Department’s Press Office generally provides photographic services when required. However, on such occasions where this is not possible, a service provider is selected from the OGP panel in line with the procurement framework and procurement guidelines.

My Department has not incurred any expenditure on photography in 2018. Details of expenditure in 2016 and 2017 are set out in the following tables:

Photography 2016

Cost	Campaign	Payment to
€90.00	Photographs of Ballina-based senior managers for the Whodoeswhat.gov.ie website	Corrine Beatty Photography
€308.42	Material for public display in the reopened Custom House Visitor Centre	Maxwell Photography
€413.28	Announcement of €25m for the first phase of the Dolphin House Regeneration Project	Maxwell Photography
€430.50	Launch of the 2016-2020 Fire Services Capital Programme	Maxwell Photography
€602.70	Announcement of ERDF grant assistance to local authority capital works under the Designated Urban Centres Grants Scheme 2014 – 2020	Maxwell Photography

Photography 2017

Cost	Campaign	Payment to
€413.95	Launch of the public consultation of the NPF – Ireland 2040	Frank Fennell Photography Ltd.
€430.50	Campaign to prevent dog attacks on sheep.	Barry Cronin
€519.40	Leader announcement	Fergal Shanahan Photography
€551.04	HAP event with Dublin City Council	Maxwell Photography Ltd.
€551.04	NPF Ireland 2040 Green Schools National Poster Competition	Maxwell Photography Ltd.
€602.70	Social housing funding announcement with the EIB	Maxwell Photography Ltd.
€706.02	Social housing event	Maxwell Photography Ltd.
€4,086.64	Fire Services - Long Service Awards	Maxwell Photography Ltd.
€393.60	Good Practice in Local Government Seminar	Dylan Vaughan

In the main, the agencies operating under the remit of my Department are not exclusively funded by the Exchequer. In any event, the information sought, insofar as those agencies are concerned, is an operational matter for the agencies themselves.

Arrangements have been put in place by each agency to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for each agency is in the table:

Agency	Email address
An Bord Pleanála	[e-mail]
Ervia /Gas Networks Ireland	[e-mail]
Housing Sustainable Communities Agency	[e-mail]
Housing Finance Agency	[e-mail]
Irish Water	[e-mail]
Local Government Management Agency	[e-mail]
Ordnance Survey Ireland	[e-mail]
Property Registration Authority	[e-mail]
Residential Tenancies Board	[e-mail]
Valuation Office	[e-mail]