Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number, cost and status of all public relation consultancies, contracts or procurements entered into by or on behalf of her Department or its agents or agencies in the past three years; the terms of reference in each such appointment; the person to whom such persons report and from whom they receive instructions; if any such person or group had any previous contracts, commitments or employment with either of the Government parties. [5512/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has had two contracts with public relations consultants within the past three years. In the year to June 2002, an amount of €32,743.65 was paid to Dennehy Associates for general public relations advice and services. Reporting in respect of this contract was to the then Secretary General of my Department.

The second contract was with Carr Communications and was placed late in 2003. A total amount of €114,574.31 was paid by my Department in 2004 in connection with this. The contract was for assistance and advice on publicising the your education system national process of public consultation and for ground support in the running of the public meetings. Carr Communications received instructions from and reported to a steering group in my Department charged with overseeing the YES process.

My Department will make enquiries of the bodies under its aegis in connection with this question and provide the information directly to the Deputy. My Department has no information on any contracts, commitments or employment that these consultants have or have had with any third parties, including the Government parties.