Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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131. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount the National Assets Management Agency has spent on PR and communication consultancy fees since its inception broken down by year; if he will detail the firms it has paid broken down by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1142/14]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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NAMA does not maintain an internal press office. Instead, its internal communications resources are supported by an external service provider, Gordon MRM, (appointed following a public procurement process) in order to offer a full press office and communications service (including out-of-hours contacts for the media). This press office and communications service provides support across all the NTMA’s business areas: NAMA, Debt Management, National Pensions Reserve Fund, National Development Finance Agency, State Claims Agency and NewERA.

These arrangements were initially put in place during 2010 in light of a significant increase in the volume of domestic and international media queries being received by the NTMA and its associated bodies. In September 2012 the NTMA retendered for the provision of these services. Following the tender evaluation process, the NTMA awarded a new contract to Gordon MRM in December 2012.

The initial contract, in place to end 2012 was based on an hourly rate for services provided. During the term of this contract a 20% reduction in the hourly rate was agreed with effect from June 2011 until the end of the contract. The new contract, which commenced in January 2013, is based on a fixed fee.

NAMA reimburses the NTMA in respect of the press office and communications costs attributable to NAMA. The costs attributable to NAMA (ex VAT) are as follows:

2011 €112,353

2012 €142,653

2013 €78,926

In 2010 costs were not specifically attributed to NAMA. NAMA was charged a proportionate share of the NTMA’s third party service costs which included Gordon MRM. Total press office and communications service costs paid to Gordon MRM in respect of 2010, across all the NTMA’s functions, were €207,255.