Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1: To ask the Taoiseach the projected cost in 2009 of the communications unit in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46578/08]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 2: To ask the Taoiseach the costs incurred by the communications unit within his Department during 2008; the projected costs for 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3143/09]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.

The projected cost of the communications unit in 2009 is €294,083, with €153,038 being a direct cost to my Department and €47,005 on average being borne by three other Departments which have staff seconded to the unit. The cost for the unit in 2008 was €302,235. The role of the communications unit is under continuous review in terms of its efficiency and cost effectiveness.

Following a review of the unit's work, in conjunction with an audit of Departments' usage of external media monitoring companies, various possibilities were explored with a view to improving efficiency, eliminating duplication and implementing cost savings. In order to assess whether a viable alternative solution is available that would achieve these objectives, the Department of the Taoiseach issued a tender for a centralised Government contract for the provision of a press cutting and media monitoring service for all Departments.

Currently, some Departments have individual contracts with media monitoring companies to provide them with media notifications specific to their areas. In order to ensure that the most efficient and effective service is utilised across Departments, it was decided to explore the appointment of a single provider that could provide a viable solution, leading to cost savings across the service. Tenders received are currently being considered and a decision whether to proceed on this basis will be made shortly.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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These questions may seem somewhat irrelevant following Leaders' Questions which dealt with issues on a larger scale. The last time I raised this issue the Taoiseach said the communications unit was under continual review and that the Department had tendered for a centralised system to be provided by a single provider. Has that matter been concluded? Was a tender received and has it been accepted? Will we see a centralised single provider looking after this area?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Tenders have been received and are currently being considered. No decision has been taken yet. A decision on whether to proceed on this basis will be taken shortly.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Given all that is happening with cuts in public expenditure, has the Taoiseach any plans to get rid of the unit?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I have been examining whether a viable alternative solution that would achieve the same objectives as the unit is available. I issued a tender for a centralised Government contract for the provision of a press cutting and media monitoring service for all Departments. Tenders are being considered currently and a decision will be taken shortly.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The unit is just a listening post for the Government and its use has been questionable from the beginning. Ministers and their immediate staff are perfectly capable of reading newspapers themselves and there is no need for others to read them for them or send them on transcripts, copies or faxes. At a time when teaching assistants are being removed from special needs children, the book grant is being taken away from disadvantaged children and vaccinations for 12 year old girls are withdrawn, the communications unit is a luxury the State can do without. The Taoiseach and his Ministers would be well able to live without it. I am aware the amount saved would not be large in the overall context, but shutting down the unit would be a signal that the Government is cutting its costs and expenditure at a time when other people are being asked to cut theirs.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am reviewing the situation to try and centralise the work. The unit does important work. The Government must be able to deal with the output of the multiple media that exist now, which produce a greater output than even five years ago. We must have an interface with the media to do that job. This unit is part of that interface and it provides services in that regard to the Government. I am examining whether we can do that work more cost effectively.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Over the years we have exhausted any useful line of questioning with regard to the communications unit and it is difficult to find any new angle. The argument for the retention of the unit is also exhausted. Like Deputy Gilmore, I put it to the Taoiseach that role of the unit is null. Would the Taoiseach agree that we should now depend on the Government press office for this work? Given that each Department also has press officers in situ, does he agree that the communications unit is unnecessary triplication of what is required in terms of getting Departments' messages across? Does he not agree it is time to close the door on the unit?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I do not agree because I have not yet reached that conclusion. I have indicated the work being undertaken by the unit and the ways and means by which we can get the work done more effectively. I have sought a tender, which is being considered, and we will take it from there.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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How many people work in the communications unit? Is there liaison between the communications unit in the Taoiseach's Department and similar units in other Departments?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I indicated the salary level in my reply. The total cost is approximately €294,000, but approximately €45,000, on average, is borne by three other Departments with staff seconded to the unit. In previous responses I indicated the number of employees in the unit, namely, two executive officers, one staff officer, a clerical officer and there are two vacancies.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Do they liaise with other such units in other Departments?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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As I indicated in my reply, they provide a function across Departments as well as to the Department of the Taoiseach. The idea is to try and improve communications arrangements for the many demands on Departments on an ongoing basis.