Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 42: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount paid on external public relations and communications consultants; the name of each organisation used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20783/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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My Department does not engage external consultants for public relations purposes. From time to time consultants or companies with some communications experience are commissioned to provide services such as project management, logistics and event management. I am very conscious of the need to achieve value for money on all consultant expenditure and commissioning of such work is in full compliance with national and EU procurement regulations concerning tendering requirements. DHR Communications has been contracted since 2010 to manage and administer the Simon Cumbers Media Fund (SCMF) grants scheme. This involves managing two funding rounds each year, including through national and regional information workshops; managing and administering the application process; organising the judging process and providing detailed feedback to all applicants; processing grant payments and keeping detailed administrative and financial records; maintaining and updating the SCMF website and managing the pilot SCMF student competition. DHR was awarded a two year contract to 2012 and was re-engaged in February 2012 for a further two years following a competitive tendering process.

DHR provided short-term management support services for the Review of the White Paper on Irish Aid, including the logistical management of the nationwide public consultation activities. DHR also provided some support to the management of the Africa Day events.

The following table sets out fees and third party expenses paid to DHR Communications in 2011 and 2012