Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 10, inclusive, together.

The total cost incurred by the communications unit in 2006 was €367,740. The total cost of the unit since June 2002 was €1,453,064, with €612,468 being a direct cost to my Department and €168,119 on average being borne by the five other Departments which have staff seconded to the unit. The total projected cost of the unit for 2007 is €388,780, with €173,637 being a direct cost to my Department and an average €43,029 being borne by the five other Departments which have staff seconded to the unit.

The communications unit will continue to operate in the period between the dissolution of the current Dáil and the holding of the general election, as it did following the dissolution of the 28th Dáil. The unit operates on a strictly non-political basis and deals only with the Government press office and press offices in the various Departments. It has no contact with Deputies or the Fianna Fáil press office. The staff of the unit are subject to the usual conventions which apply to civil servants regarding political impartiality at all times. I am satisfied the personnel will continue to observe these conventions in the performance of their work.

The unit provides a media information service to Ministers and their Departments. It furnishes news updates and transcripts which ensure Departments are kept informed in a fast and efficient manner of any relevant news developments. In this way, Departments are able to provide a better service to the public.

The communications unit works an 18-hour day based on a flexible rota of three working shifts. The unit is staffed by six established civil servants, five of whom are seconded from other Departments. The work of the unit means that Departments have greatly reduced their use of external companies and ensures they no longer duplicate work such as transcripts and tapes.

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