Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 333: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the details of public relations and press arrangements in or associated with his office, identifying the staff involved and non-staff arrangements; if he will report on the costs involved or associated with such arrangements for each of the past two years; and if he will give an estimate for 2005. [17267/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The current staffing of my press office is as follows: one assistant principal, one administrative officer, one executive officer and one clerical officer. My Department's press office has not engaged any external public relations consultants since my appointment in June 2002. The total cost for running this office, made up of salaries plus travel and subsistence costs, in 2003 was €229,855.43 and in 2004 was €174,450.41. The estimated cost for 2005 is €182,000.00. As all the staff in question are serving civil servants, the costs of the salaries and expenses in question would in any event be a charge on my Department's Vote.