Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Are any measures in place to evaluate the impact of public relations campaigns, advertising and consultancies awarded by Government? For instance, in June 2007 the National Centre for Partnership and Performance launched a major public awareness campaign which involved advertising through coverage on television, radio, Internet, outdoor, press and public relations. The campaign represented an unprecedented opportunity to raise public awareness about the national workplace strategy. Does the Taoiseach know the extent of the cost of that campaign? What sort of impact analysis was carried out following that programme?

Last week it came to light that 93% of the expenditure of €866,000 by FÁS on its 2005 science challenge, was spent on advertising, PR and promotional communications. Was that matter referred to Government in respect of the extent of expenditure for covering advertising and promotional communications? Is the Taoiseach happy with the apparent sole control of this being vested in one person? In other words, if we spend 93% of a budget of €866,000 on a science challenge, which is an important element of Government strategy and considered to be important in the light of young people getting involved in this area, who approves that funding?

Does the Taoiseach consider the recommendations of the Quigley report, produced in 2005, are important, including the recommendation which states that the Department of Finance should also consider giving advice on the monitoring and recording of work done under these contracts and their quality? Does that occur and did it occur in the case of the expenditure on the science challenge by FÁS?

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