Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 320: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the companies or consultants engaged since June 2007 by her Department or any of the agencies under her aegis to provide advice or training in the areas of public relations, communications or media training; the amount paid in each case; the retainer fee paid in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8807/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Social and Family Affairs has a press office which deals with all media queries and public relations matters for the Department. Expenditure of €520 in November 2008 was incurred for a training course, provided by the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII) for a staff member on managing the press office.

The five statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department are the Pensions Board, the Combat Poverty Agency, the Citizens Information Board (formerly Comhairle), the Family Support Agency and the Social Welfare Tribunal. In addition the Pensions Ombudsman comes under the remit of the Department.

Three of the agencies under the aegis of the Department engaged the services of public relations companies to provide advice or training in the areas of public relations, communications or media training. The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following tabular statement.