Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

What is the cost of the communications unit in the Taoiseach's Department? If I recall correctly, a number of weeks ago the Taoiseach said that one of the fundamental reasons for having the unit in his Department was that it cut out the requirement on other Departments to collect information. Yet questions tabled in the last two weeks clearly pointed out an extraordinary amount of money being spent by Departments on agencies collecting newspaper cuttings and bits and pieces of information. Was the communications unit set up to do away with the requirement on other Departments to collect information and spend money on agencies to provide them with these newspaper cuttings? Yet they still seem to be doing this. What is the position? Does the Taoiseach's communications unit, whatever it costs, dispense that information to Ministers and Departments? If so, does that mean Departments should not have to employ agencies to engage in newspaper cutting exercises?

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